(Adds Spain comment)
LONDON, June 9 (Reuters) - Spain is not in talks with
Britain to allow unrestricted travel via "air bridges" and would
prefer a Europe-wide approach to tourism this summer, a foreign
ministry source in Madrid said, potentially complicating the
UK's plans for the season.
Britain introduced a 14-day quarantine for international
arrivals on Monday but government ministers have said they are
looking at whether travel corridors could allow Britons to go on
holiday in destinations with a low coronavirus infection rate.
London will review its policy after three weeks and a
British tourism lobby group said it had been assured by senior
government sources that corridors would be in place by the end
of that period.
A foreign ministry source in Spain, the most popular holiday
destination for Britons, told Reuters however that there were no
discussions with Britain on a travel corridor, and Madrid hoped
for a European Union-wide travel deal.
"Spain has called for a common (EU-wide) approach to opening
the borders. If this is not done, it will establish its own
criteria," the source said.
The British government is coming under increased pressure
over its quarantine policy, with critics asking why it was not
in place earlier when the virus was spreading, and the aviation
industry warning it will hammer jobs and tourism.
Quash Quarantine, representing 500 travel and hospitality
companies, said it had been told privately that air corridors
would be in place from June 29.
Airlines want the quarantine policy scrapped.
British Airways has joined Ryanair and
easyJet in a plan to launch legal action to try to
overturn it.
Quash Quarantine did not rule out legal action itself.
"We are still considering our options regarding legal
action, including whether to join BA’s claim or launch our own
action, but would prefer that 29th June is confirmed as soon as
possible for the start of travel corridors," spokesman Paul
Charles said.
(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Kate Holton and Giles
Elgood)