The UK government is planning to implement a 14-day self-isolation for aircraft passengers arriving in the country “as soon as possible” as it works to suppress the spread of COVID-19, according to the Opsgroup.
“It is not clear how long the new travel restriction will be in place and whether non-UK residents would be allowed to stay in rented private accommodation,” the Opsgroup says. The change was included in the UK government’s COVID-19 Recovery Strategy document.
If international travelers cannot say where they plan to self-isolate, they will have to do so in accommodations arranged by the government, it says.
“We still don’t have a date for when this will get implemented, though exemptions have already been confirmed for travelers from the Republic of Ireland and France,” Opsgroup says.
The short list of exemptions suggests that the aircraft crew may not be subject to quarantine, “but be prepared to isolate in your hotel room until your outbound leg,” it said. In addition, the government is asking that public transportation be avoided, so Opsgroup suggests booking a private service to go to and from the hotel when possible.
In addition, beginning May 18, operators flying passengers into the UK must file a General Aircraft Declaration(GAD) confirming there are no symptomatic passengers on board the flight. The GAD is filed with the Health Control Unit at Heathrow Airport.
The majority of traffic at the UK’s airports are from cargo, medical, humanitarian and repatriation flights. The status of the airports is inconsistent, with some open, some restricted and some closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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