On Monday 7th September, the Secretary of State for Transport announced that travel quarantines would be applied on a regional, rather than on a blanket basis. This means that, rather than people automatically having to isolate when they return from holiday, only people coming from regions where coronavirus infection levels are higher (e.g. certain Greek islands) will have to do this.

For many in the airline industry, this timing of this announcement is completely illogical and too slow after the peak summer holiday season has passed. The aviation sector has been devastated by the COVID-19 crisis, exacerbated by the Government’s chaotic approach to international travel during the pandemic. This has had a huge impact on Liverpool John Lennon Airport in my Constituency which supports thousands of jobs locally – including baggage handlers, air traffic controllers and security staff as well as the many employed by the airlines. Passenger numbers are down 65% at the airport and while there are still quarantines in place and uncertainty over international travel, our airport and the aviation industry need a bespoke package of support from the Government to save jobs and avoid permanent damage to the sector. That’s why I, once again, asked the Secretary of State, for industry specific support for aviation now that the furlough scheme is ending. I’ll continue to work with the airport, Constituents whose jobs are affected and the relevant trade unions to push for this.

You can read my question and Grant Shapps’ reply in full here. 

You can read the Government’s guidance on foreign travel on the Foreign Office website here.