The UK government has confirmed quarantine on international arrivals to the UK will come into force from June 8.
The plans will include random spot checks on international arrivals and £1,000 fines for non-compliance, with the option to raise fines if needed.
The home secretary Priti Patel confirmed all arrivals will be asked to complete a form with their contact information when the measures are introduced.
Patel said the quarantine measures were being introduced to avoid a second peak of infections, but acknowledged the impact they would have on the travel industry.
She said: “We recognise how hard these changes will be for the travel sector and leisure sectors who are already struggling through these unprecedented times.
“Across government we will continue to work with them and support what is an incredibly dynamic sector to find new ways to open international travel and tourism in a safe and responsible way.”
When asked whether the measures effectively ruled out summer holidays for 2020, she added: “The advice is not about booking holidays right now. The advice from the government and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is you are not to travel.
“This is absolutely not about booking holidays, we want to avoid a second wave [of the virus].”
Asked about moves to develop ‘air bridges’ between the UK and other countries, Patel said: “We’re open to all ideas. We should be looking to lead the world in opening aviation.”
Karen Dee, chief executive of the Airport Operators Association, said: “We are disappointed that the government has decided to go ahead with a simplistic, blanket approach to quarantining all arrivals, without any consultation with industry.
“This threatens to have very serious economic and social consequences, not just in aviation but in all sectors relying on aviation connectivity, without resulting in notably better public health outcomes than a more targeted approach. This must be reviewed more frequently than every three weeks.
“Airlines will be reluctant to fly if there is limited to no demand as a result of quarantine restrictions, hampering the travel of those key workers who have now been exempted.”
She added: “As our neighbours and key trading partners move towards a science-led, risk-based approach, the UK should do so as soon as possible, or risk being left behind. Industry proposals such as air bridges would facilitate travel from low-risk countries and protect the public from high-risk arrivals.
“This would enable the restart of aviation and support the UK’s economic recovery. Crucially, this also would give us time to get a testing regime in place for arriving passengers like Greece, Iceland and other countries are doing, as the next step to returning to a new normal.
“In the meantime, the chancellor needs to provide further financial and business support to airports and travel operators to help the industry get through this prolonged period with limited to no revenue and ensure the sector is ready to restart in support of the UK economic recovery.”
