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* Move aimed at avoiding second peak of coronavirus pandemic
* Airlines say measure needs "credible exit plan"
* Airports say it could be devastating for aviation industry
(Adds details, changes sourcing)
By James Davey
LONDON, May 9 (Reuters) - The British government has told
airlines it will introduce a 14-day quarantine period for most
people arriving from abroad to try to avoid a second peak of the
coronavirus pandemic, an association representing the airlines
said on Saturday.
Airlines UK, which represents British Airways,
Easyjet and other British airlines, said the move
required "a credible exit plan" and should be reviewed weekly.
Airport operators said it could have a "devastating" impact on
the aviation industry and the broader economy.
The quarantine plan was first reported by The Times
newspaper, which said Prime Minister Boris Johnson would on
Sunday announce that passengers arriving at airports and ports,
including Britons returning from abroad, will have to
self-isolate for a fortnight.
Under measures that are likely to come into force in early
June, travellers will have to provide the address at which they
will self-isolate on arrival, The Times said.
"These measures will help protect the British public and
reduce the transmission of the virus as we move into the next
phase of our response," The Times quoted a government source as
saying.
Johnson's Downing Street office and the interior ministry
declined comment.
Johnson is due on Sunday to announce the next steps in
Britain's battle to tackle the novel coronavirus following a
review by ministers of measures that have all but shut the
economy and kept millions at home for more than six weeks.
The airport operators said a quarantine would compound
damage done by the pandemic to the aviation industry as it would
put people off travelling when lockdown restrictions are lifted.
"Quarantine would not only have a devastating impact on the
UK aviation industry, but also on the wider economy," said Karen
Dee, Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association.
"If the government believes quarantine is medically
necessary, then it should be applied on a selective basis
following the science, there should be a clear exit strategy and
the economic impact on key sectors should be mitigated."
SPOT CHECKS AND FINES
Airlines UK said it would seek assurances that the move is
"led by the science" and that airlines would need support
measures to ensure the aviation sector gets through the
quarantine period.
The Times report said travellers from Ireland, the Channel
Islands and the Isle of Man would be exempt from the quarantine,
as would lorry drivers bringing crucial supplies.
It said the authorities would carry out spot checks and
those found to be breaking the rules would face fines or
deportation.
Britain has reported 31,241 deaths from the coronavirus and
environment minister George Eustice said Johnson would not
announce any dramatic changes to Britain's lockdown on Sunday.
The devolved Welsh government announced minor lockdown
adjustments on Friday, allowing people to exercise more than
once a day and garden centres to reopen.
($1 = 0.8060 pounds)
(Reporting by James Davey in London and Aishwarya Nair in
Bengaluru, Editing by Ros Russell and Timothy Heritage)
