British Airways planes are parked at Heathrow airport in London on April 2, 2020. Heathrow Airport called for a plan to re-open borders, as new travel rules sent shockwaves through an industry already on its knees. — AFP pic
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said yesterday that a quarantine would soon be needed for people coming into this country by air to prevent a second peak of the coronavirus pandemic. That has created a new threat to airlines and airports, which are desperate for travel demand to recover. The novel coronavirus has grounded fleets since March, putting aviation company finances under huge strain.
Passenger numbers at Heathrow plunged 97 per cent in April, and the airport warned that the new quarantine rules would “effectively close borders temporarily”, with very few people travelling.