Some Airlines have threatened to take legal actions against the British government for insisting that all arrivals self-isolate for 14 days on entry into the country.
The directive by the UK government is to take effect this Monday, as the country gradually eases lockdown.
Michael O’Leary, Group Chief Executive of low-cost airline Ryanair, lamented that the directive could lead to loss of millions of jobs.
The new quarantine rule says that all arrivals in Britain including British citizens must self-isolate for 14days except those coming in from Ireland.
The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the quarantine requirement, expected to last till June 28, was necessary to prevent those arriving from abroad unknowingly spreading the virus.
Ryanair, EasyJet and British Airways owner IAG wrote to the government threatening legal action to stop the disproportionate and unfair measure, NAN reports.
The Chief Executive Officer of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary warned that the move would have a devastating effect on the UK tourism industry.
“We are seeing thousands of British families booking their holidays in Portugal, Spain and Italy, but there’s almost a collapse of inward bookings bringing those Europeans here to the UK, on which Britain’s tourism industry depends.
“What’s irrational about the directive is that all of those countries have much lower COVID-19 rates than the UK,’’ O’Leary told broadcaster ITV.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK