The UK government’s decision to impose a 14-day quarantine period on all travelers entering the country, which came into force on Monday, June 8, looks set to be challenged legally.
British Airways owner IAG and airlines Ryanair and easyJet are preparing a collective action to force the restrictions to be lifted. The trio had already served a ‘pre-action’ letter to the British government on Friday, June 5, outlining the reasoning behind the move.
A separate group, under the title of Quash Quarantine and representing some 500 companies from the UK travel and hospitality sector, including premier London hotels and large tour operators, looked set to join the airlines either in the same legal bid or a separate action.
The group has surveyed its members and found that over 70% expected to make 60% of their staff redundant if the measures were introduced and more than a quarter of respondents felt the situation would lead to closure of their businesses.
Currently, the UK government plans to review the policy every 21 days, however, Michael O’Leary of Ryanair hopes that a court injunction could see the measures reversed in a matter of days, rather than weeks.