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British Airways has begun legal proceedings over what it calls the British government\u2019s \u201cunlawful\u201d quarantine measures, which include 14-days of self-isolation for international arrivals.<\/p>\nBritish Airways has begun legal proceedings over what it calls the British government\u2019s \u201cunlawful\u201d quarantine measures, which include 14-days of self-isolation for international arrivals.<\/p>\n
BA\u2019s parent company IAG sent a pre-action letter, which is the first stage in a judicial review, to ministers on Friday ahead of the measures coming into effect on Monday.<\/p>\n
The letter, seen by The Sunday Times, argues the restrictions are disproportionate.<\/p>\n
It states: \u201cIn our view, the government has failed to identify a valid justification for the blanket nature of the regulations, especially given the extremely severe nature of the self-isolation provisions that apply.\u201d<\/p>\n
The letter sent to the Procurator General Jonathan Jones was also signed by BA\u2019s budget rivals easyJet and Ryanair.<\/p>\n
It comes as The Sun reports BA has told pilots\u2019 union Balpa all 4,300 of its pilots will be fired and re-hired if current employment negotiations break down.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, IAG chief executive Willie Walsh described the government\u2019s quarantine policy as \u201cterrible\u201d and warned it has \u201ctorpedoed our opportunity to get flying in July\u201d.<\/p>\n
He told Sky News on Friday: \u201cWe think it\u2019s irrational, we think it\u2019s disproportionate, and we are giving consideration to a legal challenge to this legislation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re reviewing that with the lawyers later on today.<\/p>\n
\u201cI suspect there are other airlines who are doing so because it\u2019s important to point out there was no consultation with the industry prior to enacting this legislation.<\/p>\n
“We do believe it is an irrational piece of legislation.”<\/p>\n
Downing Street said it would not comment on Friday on the proposed legal action.<\/p>\n
From Monday, people arriving in the UK will need to self-isolate for 14 days.<\/p>\n
There has been widespread concern that this will cause huge damage to the travel and aviation sectors as they recover from the coronavirus outbreak.<\/p>\n
Home Secretary Priti Patel has insisted the rule is \u201cbacked by the science\u201d and is \u201cessential\u201d to save lives.<\/p>\n
IAG had previously said it intends to make \u201ca meaningful return to service\u201d in July.<\/p>\n
BA declined to join a meeting between Ms Patel and the travel industry to discuss the quarantine on Thursday.<\/p>\n
It is understood the Home Office received no reply from the airline after being invited to the discussion, which was attended by several of its competitors including Virgin Atlantic, easyJet and Jet2.<\/p>\n
Len McCluskey, general secretary of union Unite, said it was \u201cfrankly irresponsible that BA would sit this out\u201d.<\/p>\n
The airline has announced plans to cut up to 12,000 jobs as part of a restructuring.<\/p>\n
It was confirmed by the Bank of England on Thursday that it has lent \u00a3300 million to IAG as part of its emergency pandemic funding.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he held on to \u201chope\u201d that foreign trips would be able to resume before the year is out.<\/p>\n
Asked whether he would personally be booking a holiday this year, Mr Shapps told BBC Radio 4\u2019s Today program: \u201cOf course we all hope \u2013 let\u2019s give ourselves some hope here \u2013 that by later in the year we will have continued to do all the things we have just talked about and got on top of this virus and the signs are in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Shapps confirmed ministers were continuing to look at the concept of so-called \u201cair corridors\u201d \u2013 allowing travel with countries where Covid-19 transmission was low \u2013 but said there was no impending announcement to be made.<\/p>\n