EasyJet, British Airways and Heathrow airport write open letter begging government for ‘nuanced’ quarantine approach

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy EasyJet, British Airways, Tui and Heathrow Airport were among 47 travel industry signatories to send an open letter to the government calling for a more “nuanced” approached when it comes to its quarantine policy. The letter claimed there was “no obvious rationale” behind the move; the current rate of new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in the Canary Islands is around two, compared to the UK’s 14. It also warned that current government policy would leave the travel industry “permanently scarred” and that a much more targeted approach, based on testing and the “rapid introduction” of “regional” travel corridors, was needed. “This means we are in the extraordinary situation where the government is encouraging domestic tourism but advising against travel to areas of Spain that have lower rates of Covid than the UK.” Testing for all arrivals from high-risk countries has also been encouraged by some industry leaders, including the CEO of Heathrow Airport, John Holland-Kaye.