Coronavirus: What are the new travel quarantine rules?
Coronavirus: What are the UK travel quarantine rules?
(4 days later)
A two-week quarantine period for people arriving in the UK will be introduced, the government has said.
Further details on government plans to introduce a two-week quarantine period for people arriving in the UK are expected soon.
The measures are being imposed to try to prevent imported coronavirus cases infecting the population.
So what do we know so far?
What are the new quarantine rules?
What are the new quarantine rules?
In its Covid-19 Recovery Strategy document, the government says quarantine measures for people arriving in the UK will be introduced "as soon as possible".
Any passengers arriving in the UK by plane, ferry or train will have to provide an address where they will remain for two weeks.
If international travellers cannot say where they plan to self-isolate, they will do so in accommodation arranged by the government.
The idea is to reduce the spread of coronavirus by minimising the contact international travellers have with other people when they first arrive.
The rules will apply not just to air passengers, but also to those arriving by ferry or train.
The government has not given a starting date, but has said it wants the measures introduced "as soon as possible".
There will be some exemptions for people arriving from the Republic of Ireland as part of the Common Travel Area.
On arrival, travellers will need to provide UK Border Force officials with an address where they will self-isolate. Otherwise, accommodation will be arranged by the government.
The government initially said, in a separate statement, that travellers from France would be exempt, too. However, on 15 May, the government insisted the quarantine measures would apply to travellers from France.
Do the quarantine rules apply to everybody?
There will also be further exemptions to allow "continued security of supply into the UK" and to support national security and critical infrastructure requirements.
People travelling from the Republic of Ireland will not need to self-isolate.
Industry body Airlines UK said the policy would need "a credible exit plan" and should be reviewed weekly. UK airports fear the measures will have devastating impact on their industry and the wider economy.
Initially, it was suggested travellers from France were also exempt. However, the government later insisted the quarantine measures will also apply to them.
Should people be flying?
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said "air bridges" could be introduced. This would be an arrangement where travellers from countries with low coronavirus levels could be exempt from quarantine.
In its latest travel guidance, the government recommends only travelling when absolutely necessary.
Speaking to the BBC, Greece's tourism minister called for his country - which has not been badly affected - to be among them.
Passengers displaying any symptoms of coronavirus should not travel.
It is also expected that delivery workers, like lorry drivers, will not have to enter quarantine.
International travellers should consult the latest FCO travel advice, and check the guidance from their destination country.
What has the response been?
They should discuss their specific plans with their airline and inform their travel insurance provide before they fly.
UK airlines fear the measures will have a devastating impact on their industry and the wider economy.
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock told ITV's This Morning programme that "big, lavish international holidays" were unlikely to be possible this summer.
Michael O'Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, has said the policy had "no credibility" and has predicted it will be gone by June.
What about social distancing on flights?
And Airlines UK, which represents various airlines, said quarantine "would effectively kill off air travel".
The government guidance says all flight passengers should remain 2m (6ft) apart from other people wherever possible.
The British Ports Association, which represents ferry companies, has also spoken out against the measures - calling them "overzealous".
Passengers should also follow guidance from their travel operator about where to stand or sit during their journey.
What other measures have been put in place?
However, social distancing is a massive challenge for airports and airlines, with Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye saying it is "physically impossible".
The government guidance says all flight passengers should remain at least 2m (6ft) apart from other people wherever possible and consider wearing a face covering.
Aer Lingus said it would review its procedures following a claim it did not maintain social distancing among passengers on a Belfast-London flight.
EasyJet has said it plans to keep the middle seats on planes empty for a time. Emirates and the US airline Delta have announced similar plans.
But Michael O'Leary, the boss of Ryanair, has said empty seats do not ensure safe social distancing and are financially unviable.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the body representing global airlines, says leaving the middle seat empty would not improve passenger safety. It says most airlines would not have made money last year if a third of the seats had been removed.
What about face masks, gloves and temperature checks?
The government is now recommending that all flight passengers should consider wearing a face covering.
People travelling through Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports have already been told to cover their faces and wear gloves.
People travelling through Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports have already been told to cover their faces and wear gloves.
Passengers will be given face coverings and gloves initially. Airport staff will also wear them.
EasyJet has said it plans to keep the middle seats on planes empty for a time. Emirates and the US airline Delta have announced similar plans.
Manchester Airports Group, which owns the sites, said the measure will show "one way in which air travel can be made safe".
However, the International Air Transport Association, which represents global airlines, says leaving the middle seat empty would not improve passenger safety. It also says most airlines would not have made money last year if a third of the seats had been removed.
Some temperature screening trials will also be conducted at Stansted. Heathrow, one of the world's busiest airports, is already trialling large-scale temperature checks.
Some temperature screening trials will also be conducted at Stansted. Heathrow, one of the world's busiest airports, is already trialling large-scale temperature checks.
Chief executive John Holland-Kaye has called for a common international standard for health screening at airports "to build confidence in international travel".
Air France says passengers will be temperature-checked before flying. The carrier has also made face masks compulsory - similar to several US airlines.
Air France says passengers will be temperature checked before flying from 11 May. The carrier is also making face masks compulsory - similar to several US airlines.
How many people are travelling?
How many people are still flying?
The government recommends international travel only when absolutely necessary and nobody should travel if they display any coronavirus symptoms.
Far fewer people have been flying since the Foreign Office advised against international travel.
Since that advice was issued, far fewer people have been flying. For example, between 16 and 22 April, the number of air passengers coming into the UK was 99% lower than the same period in 2019.
Between 16 and 22 April, for example, the number of air passengers coming into the UK was 99% lower than the same period in 2019.
Ryanair, for example, carried 40,000 passengers in April - down from 13.5 million in the same month last year. It expects passenger numbers to halve in the current financial year.
American Airlines said social distancing had been possible "for all passengers", suggesting that its aircraft have a lot of empty seats. And Virgin Atlantic said many of its flights in April were only a quarter full.
However, the airline still plans to reintroduce 40% of its flights from 1 July, subject to travel restrictions being lifted and safety measures being brought in at airports.
Meanwhile, Ryanair carried 40,000 passengers in April - down from 13.5 million in the same month last year.
The airline has said it plans to reintroduce 40% of its flights from 1 July, subject to travel restrictions being lifted and safety measures being brought in at airports.
The airline will operate nearly 1,000 flights a day, bringing back nearly all of its pre-Covid-19 route network.
British Airways is reviewing its plans to run 50% of its schedule from July, because of new quarantine rules.
British Airways is reviewing its plans to run 50% of its schedule from July, because of new quarantine rules.
Easyjet told the BBC that it "does not currently have a date for restarting flights," but said it was keeping the situation under review. "We remain hopeful we will be flying over the summer," the company added.
How safe is air travel?
If you have to fly, it's a common belief that you are more likely to become ill on an aeroplane, because you're breathing "stale" air.
However, according to the World Health Organization, the quality of air in a plane cabin is very carefully controlled and changed up to 30 times an hour.
However, there is a greater likelihood of the virus being transmitted if passengers are close together - usually as a result of an infected individual coughing, sneezing or touching surfaces.
This is the same as in any other situation in which people are close to each other, such as on a train or a bus.
