British Airways, Easyjet and Ryanair have launched legal action against the UK government’s coronavirus quarantine rules.
The three airlines say the restrictions “will have a devastating effect on British tourism and the wider economy and destroy thousands of jobs.”
On Monday, the UK introduced new rules that required anyone coming into the country to go into a 14-day self-isolation, or face fines.
In a statement the airlines said their legal challenge was based on several factors including “the fact this quarantine, by criminal law, is more stringent than the guidelines applied to people who actually have COVID-19.”
They say that, “there was no consultation and no scientific evidence provided for such a severe policy.”
In their challenge, the airlines cite a stipulation that says, “if you are a French or German worker commuting weekly to the UK you will be exempted, and the UK government is banning people traveling to and from countries with lower infection rates than the UK.”
They also said they have seen no evidence on how and when proposed “air bridges” between the UK and other countries will be implemented.