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Version 1 Version 2
Heathrow calls for urgent plan to restart more flights BA owner to review July restart if plans for quarantine go ahead
(about 3 hours later)
Airport says government’s 14-day quarantine proposal would in effect close UK borders IAG chief says proposal for UK arrivals could harm prospects of recovery in air traffic
Heathrow has called on the government to urgently lay out a road map for airports to restart more flights after Boris Johnson confirmed the move would require travellers to self-isolate on arrival in the UK. The boss of British Airways’ owner has said the airline group will have to review its plans to restart a significant number of flights in July after Boris Johnson said people arriving into the UK would be quarantined.
Britain’s biggest airport said in a statement that the quarantine plan would in effect close the UK’s borders, prompting an even bigger fall in passenger numbers, which in April were 200,000 – the same number that would usually pass through Heathrow in one day. Willie Walsh, the chief executive of International Airlines Group, said flights to and from the UK would be “pretty minimal” if the government pressed ahead with plans to make passengers self-isolate for 14 days on arrival in the UK.
The aviation industry expressed dismay when the plans were first floated. Johnson confirmed on Sunday that quarantine would be imposed on air passengers, although it is thought that other forms of transport will also be included.
IAG last week said BA and its other airlines, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling, intended to run about 1,000 flights a day between July and September, a significant increase from April and May.
However, Walsh said the quarantine would make the prospects of a recovery in air traffic more difficult. The crisis has already led to planned jobs cuts, including 12,000 at BA with thousands more expected at IAG’s other airlines.
“There’s nothing positive in anything I heard the prime minister say yesterday,” Walsh told MPs on the transport committee on Monday. “We had been planning to resume on a pretty significant basis of flying in July. I think we’ll have to review that based on what the prime minister said yesterday.
“I don’t think anybody thought the UK government would actually implement it [a quarantine requirement] if they were serious about getting the economy moving again,” Walsh added.
Air passenger traffic has already slumped because of lockdown restrictions. Heathrow airport on Monday called for a road map out of the crisis.
Britain’s two biggest airports – Heathrow and Gatwick – were also critical of the government’s proposals. Heathrow said in a statement that the quarantine plan would in effect close the UK’s borders, prompting an even bigger fall in passenger numbers, which in April were 200,000 – the same number that would usually pass through Heathrow in one day.
John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow’s chief executive, said: “The government needs to urgently lay out a road map for how they will reopen borders once the disease has been beaten, and to take an immediate lead in agreeing a common international standard for health in aviation that will allow passengers who don’t have the infection to travel freely.”John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow’s chief executive, said: “The government needs to urgently lay out a road map for how they will reopen borders once the disease has been beaten, and to take an immediate lead in agreeing a common international standard for health in aviation that will allow passengers who don’t have the infection to travel freely.”
Airline and tourism bosses have already warned that the 14-day quarantine plan would be a “nightmare” for the travel industry if tourists and business travellers were forced to stay in one location for two weeks on arrival in the UK. Airline and tourism bosses have already warned that the quarantine plan would be a “nightmare” for the travel industry if tourists and business travellers were forced to stay in one location for two weeks on arrival in the UK.
Heathrow’s traffic fell by 97% in April compared with the same month last year, with Britons banned from all but essential travel and borders closed in many countries across the world. The few flights that have landed have mainly been repatriation services to bring home Britons trapped abroad. Heathrow’s traffic fell by 97% in April compared with the same month last year, with UK nationals banned from all but essential travel and borders closed in many countries across the world. The few flights that have landed have mainly been repatriation services to bring home Britons trapped abroad.
The decline in passenger numbers has rocked the aviation industry, with tens of thousands of job cuts planned at carriers including British Airways, Ryanair and Virgin Atlantic. Holland-Kaye has already warned that Heathrow may have to make thousands of job cuts if the government does not lay out a clear plan. Gatwick also said the government must give “a clear, time bound exit strategy from quarantine” and review the policy on a weekly basis.
“This proposal risks decimating air travel and severely curtailing the ability for the economy to recover,” it said.
The decline in passenger numbers has rocked the aviation industry, with tens of thousands of job cuts planned at carriers including Ryanair and Virgin Atlantic. Holland-Kaye has already warned that Heathrow may have to make thousands of job cuts if the government does not lay out a clear plan.
Unlike many other countries, the UK has not imposed any conditions on arrivals from abroad, but Heathrow last week unilaterally decided to check passengers’ temperature to detect signs of fever.Unlike many other countries, the UK has not imposed any conditions on arrivals from abroad, but Heathrow last week unilaterally decided to check passengers’ temperature to detect signs of fever.
Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, said detailed guidance for the transport sector during the next phase of lockdown would be published on Tuesday.
EasyJet said on Monday any quarantine restrictions should not last beyond lockdown and should be regularly reviewed.EasyJet said on Monday any quarantine restrictions should not last beyond lockdown and should be regularly reviewed.
“Requirements should be regularly reviewed to ensure they are targeted and proportionate and do not unnecessarily constrain the important role that air travel will have in the UK’s economic recovery,” a spokeswoman said.“Requirements should be regularly reviewed to ensure they are targeted and proportionate and do not unnecessarily constrain the important role that air travel will have in the UK’s economic recovery,” a spokeswoman said.
Willie Walsh, the chief executive of British Airways owner IAG, last week said there would be no recovery in air passenger volumes if the 14-day quarantine were imposed.