Airports braced for quarantine rules chaos as all UK arrivals must self-isolate for 14 days and send form from Monday
UK airports are braced for chaos on Monday after being given just three days to implement new quarantine guidelines.
Rules issued by the government on Friday will require all arrivals to submit an online form 48 hours before they travel and to quarantine for 14 days after touching down.
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Airline bosses were sent a 23-page document laying out new measures at 4pm on Friday and told they needed to be enforced from Monday morning, the Telegraph reported.
Both passengers and airlines are expected to be hit with considerable fines if they fail to stick to the guidelines.
The document also instructed airlines that “carriers should remind passengers that they could be subject to criminal sanctions upon arrival” if they do not submit the required forms.
Passengers will be required to provide their address and phone number and could face home visits by police to make sure they are staying at home.
The measures will apply to all arrivals from abroad, including Brits reentering the country, and are set to be re-examined in three weeks’ time.
Some holidaymakers may bypass the new restrictions, with exemptions to be established with certain countries.
Talks are reportedly underway between Turkey and the UK to set up an “air bridge” that would allow people to move between the countries without the need to quarantine from July 15.
There are also plans for similar arrangements with holiday hotspots like Spain, Greece, and Portugal.
Brits flying to Europe from airports in areas of the UK with low rates of infection might also be able to avoid quarantine requirements in their destination country.
The government has previously faced strong criticism from airlines over its quarantine plans.
British Airways’ parent company IAG has said it is considering legal action to block the change, calling it an “irrational and disproportionate” response that could devastate the industry.
The airline is expected to make up to 12,000 people redundant following the loss of business caused by the lockdown.
Chief Executive Willie Walsh has also claimed that the government did not consult the airline industry before enacting legislation on international travel.
Rival carrier Ryanair, which is set to cut at least 3,000 jobs, has said it will back “any legal action launched by IAG against this ineffective quarantine.”
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A Downing Street spokesperson said the government had been clear that new public health measures would be brought in on June 8.
They also said the form passengers will be asked to fill out has been live online since Thursday, giving anyone expected to arrive on Monday adequate time to fill it out.