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* High Court challenge coincides with policy change
* Airlines welcome end of "irrational" rules
* Government argued policy needed to help avoid second wave
(Adds airlines' comments, publication of policy detail)
By Alistair Smout
LONDON, July 3 (Reuters) - Three of Europe's biggest
airlines said on Friday they would end a legal challenge against
the British government after it scrapped its quarantine rule for
travellers coming from some of the most popular tourist
destinations.
The government said the policy would be ended for English
holidaymakers to countries such as France, Spain and Italy,
although it would be maintained for the United States.
The policy announcement coincided with a planned court
hearing for a legal challenge to the measures by British Airways
, easyJet and Ryanair.
The airlines heavily criticised the government's
introduction of a blanket rule that all travellers arriving from
abroad must self-isolate for 14 days on June 8, saying it
jeopardised the industry's recovery from the crisis.
However, they agreed to end the legal challenge after the
government said it would publish a list of countries to which
the rules would not apply.
"The blanket quarantine introduced by the UK Government on
everyone entering into England was irrational and has seriously
damaged the economy and the travel industry," the airlines said
in a statement.
"Today’s publication of a list of countries is a first step.
We look forward to the publication of the rationale behind the
decision-making and the continued lifting of the quarantine from
safe countries."
Tom Hickman, representing the airlines, had earlier argued
that the restrictions on travellers were stricter than those
imposed at the height of the coronavirus lockdown, and that the
rate of infection in different countries should be taken into
account.
The government said the policy was a crucial step to avoid a
second wave of COVID-19, and their lawyers said that the
measures had been justified and proportionate.
(Editing by Michael Holden and Stephen Addison)
