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UPDATE 2-Britain's embattled aviation industry demands alternative to quarantine

Mon, 11th May 2020 08:06

* UK set to introduce quarantine on international arrivals

* 14-day quarantine seen introduced at end of the month

* Aviation industry warns will need more government help
(Adds detail, background, Manchester airports boss comment)

By Sarah Young

LONDON, May 11 (Reuters) - Britain's aviation industry
called on the government to find an alternative to quarantine
plans for international arrivals, or risk seeing airlines and
airports being dealt a fatal blow from the coronavirus pandemic.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday a quarantine
would soon be needed for people coming into the country by air
to prevent a second peak of the virus outbreak.

The new rules, which airlines have been told will be a
14-day quarantine period for most people arriving from abroad,
will deter travelling and destroy any hopes of a swift recovery
for an industry in crisis, said aviation bosses.

Airlines are already facing a battle to survive, with most
flights grounded since March due to travel restrictions to
contain the pandemic.

Heathrow Airport, which during normal times is Europe's
busiest airport but which saw passenger numbers plunge 97% in
April, called for common international standards to enable
passengers to travel freely between low risk counties once the
virus is under control.

That would allow borders to be re-opened, it said.

Meanwhile, easyJet, one of Britain's biggest
airlines, said any quarantine requirements must be short-lived
and replaced by a targeted regime allowing low-risk passengers
to travel easily.

MORE HELP

Airlines UK, which represents British Airways,
easyJet and other UK carriers, said quarantine measures would
lead to the industry requiring additional government support.

The industry body has already asked for Britain's job
retention scheme to be extended beyond June, and requested a
temporary suspension of some taxes airlines pay, such as air
passenger duty.

Bosses complained there was lack of clarity over how long
the new rules would last and how often they would be reviewed.

"It's inevitable that consumers will be confused by the
message, they will not be certain as to when they should book
their holidays," Manchester Airports Group Chief Executive
Charlie Cornish told BBC television.

Some destinations will be at an advantage, as travellers
from France will be exempt from the quarantine rules, while
airlines said the new rules wouldn't be applied to arrivals from
Ireland.

Britain's foreign minister Dominic Raab told BBC Radio there
would be exemptions from the rules but did not give details. He
said the government was aiming to bring in the quarantine from
the end of the month.

Critics have asked why it was not brought in sooner and how
it will be put into practise, given passengers could fly to
France and then cross into Britain via ferry or train.

Willie Walsh, the boss of British Airways parent company
IAG, is likely to comment on the new rules when he gives
evidence to parliament's transport committee later on Monday.
(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by James Davey and Mark
Potter)

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