Article from BTNews 8 JUNE 2020
English border requirements
Business Travel News here reproduces in full the government’s Covid-19 requirements regarding travel to England from today (Monday 8 June). The final line reads, “There is no exemption period currently in place.”
Not one to be universally held in esteem by all those involved in the many facets of the travel industry IAG Chief Executive Willie Walsh has led a nationwide chorus of disapproval (see in this week's BTN). The plan has also been condemned by MPs, airlines and holiday companies, while scientists have queried its effectiveness.
Home Secretary Priti Patel, the subject of the industry's wrath, seems to have muted, or at the best put off, an “air bridge” scheme first suggested by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. She has defended her plans noting in a statement “To stop this disease in its tracks we’ve had to make some tough choices. Huge sacrifices have already been made, and I know how hard the new measures will be for you all. But we’re here because we all share one aim: to keep people safe and get Britain moving again.”
Ms Patel appears to be at variance with Sir Patrick Vallance, the Chief Scientific Adviser, who at a news conference failed to endorse the plan fully, saying that “measures like this are most effective when the number of cases is very low.”
www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-requirements-to-provide-public-health-information-to-passengers-travelling-to-england/coronavirus-covid-19-required-information-and-exemption-periods-under-the-public-health-information-for-passengers-travelling-to-england-regulati
OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)
All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum
Andy King, Radlett
I for one will not be taking to the air unless I have too. The whole situation is crazy. As a regular business traveller both short & long haul my flight and onward arrangements have to work smoothly with no difficulties regarding transport and accommodation at the other end. Zoom has solved many of my problems. If and when a vaccine becomes available, I will think again. But I must admit it was fun and actually meeting people did prove valuable.