Commenting on the Prime Minister’s announcement that arrivals from 22 COVID-19 hotspots will have to quarantine in hotels, Airport Operators Association Chief Executive Karen Dee said:
“It is welcome that the Prime Minister has listened to our concerns and ensured that the new measures only apply to a limited number of countries. However, strict travel restrictions were only introduced recently, and it remains unclear what additional public health benefit mandatory hotel quarantine would have.
“It is vital the government now sets when and how we can ease all these measures safely and provide people with reassurance that travel will be possible again in the future.
“Aviation will be vital for the UK’s recovery, and for the UK Government’s ambitions for a globally trading Britain. None of that is possible if the Government keeps laying blow after blow on an industry already reeling from the worst year in aviation history, with areas relying on regional airports dealt the toughest hand.
“The Australian and New Zealand governments have backed up their government-ordered aviation shutdowns with more than a billion dollars in combined aviation-specific support. It’s time the UK Government backed their tough stance on border with similar financial support for the industry hit hardest by that stance.”
ENDS
