From 8th June people arriving in the UK must self-isolate for 14 days, subject to some exemptions. The Government recently published its guidance on a system of quarantine for people coming into the UK, aimed at preventing transmission of Covid-19.

In response to these measures, CILT and its Aviation Policy Group says: "CILT recognises the need for government decisions to be made with a priority on health implications, and supports the recent decision to require international passengers to be subject to quarantine, if that is what the advice indicates is the safest course of action. 

"The impact of these regulations will be severe on the aviation industry, as is already apparent. General economic recovery will also be held back until routes can be re-established, with the particular issue of the shortage of freight capacity in the belly holds of passenger aircraft while these flights are not operating, despite the efforts of the all-cargo operators to increase services.
 
"Government is well aware that aviation is primarily an international activity and therefore the UK must take into account the actions of other countries and, in particular, the guidance being issued by international organisations such as ICAO, IATA, and EASA. UK organisations such as Airlines UK and the AOA, as well as some individual aviation businesses, have been in direct contact with government to ensure that they are aware of the latest information. 

"We would urge the government to ensure that testing, checking and preventative measures at various stages of the air journey are developed rapidly, monitor the situation very closely, and where reciprocal health standards can be agreed to facilitate ‘travel corridors’ or ‘airbridges’,  be prepared to change the regulations at very short notice."

Kevin Richardson
Chief Executive,
CILT(UK).