More than 500 private jets flown into UK from coronavirus hotspots

Rich tourists have been flying their private jets into the UK from coronavirus hotspots during the lockdown.

A total of 545 private jets have landed in UK airfields since the nationwide lockdown started on March 23.

Unlike 130 other countries who have imposed travel restrictions, the UK is still operating an open borders policy meaning pilots are still able to land in the country.

It has been revealed that 15 flew in from the world’s worst-hit country, the US, another 25 from coronavirus-stricken Spain, 27 from France, and 32 from Germany.

More than 15,000 passengers are still arriving in the UK daily on regular flights, with no tests carried out on arrival, revealed the health secretary.

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Matt Hancock said the equivalent of 105,000 travellers land per week, including from hotspot nations such as China, Italy and the United States.

President of epidemiology and public health at the Royal Society of Medicine Professor, Gabriel Scally, told the Times it was ‘hard to understand’ why UK officials have decided against stricter border controls.

Justin Bowman, chief executive of the Air Charter Service, the largest private charter service in the world, said: ‘Governments are facing huge challenges moving people from different parts of the world back to the UK, where they are stranded.

‘The airlines stopped pretty much overnight. There are still thousands of people in the wrong place. Many of these flights will be legitimate repatriations from around the world. I would hope those abusing the rules are in the minority.’

Operators should be checking that passengers’ reasons for hiring the private jet are in line with the government’s essential travel policy.

However, many have been arguing their trip was essential to get home, rather than admitting they were travelling to second or holiday homes.

One aviation source said: ‘These are some of the wealthiest people who count the UK as their home, who are fleeing to second homes since the lockdown was imposed.’

It comes after a group of Britons were sent home from France last week on a private jet after trying to get to a rented villa in Cannes.

Seven men, in their 40s and 50s, and three women, in their 20s, were intercepted by local police after the luxury business jet landed at Marseille-Provence airport last Saturday.

As of Sunday morning, the UK’s death toll surpassed 16,000, while more than 120,000 people have tested positive for the virus.

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