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Passengers arriving at UK airports hail 'very exciting' change to quarantine rules

REUTERS
REUTERS

Passengers at UK airports have hailed the "very exciting" changes to quarantine rules as holidaymakers look forward to meeting new grandchildren and being reunited with loved ones.

The Government published on Friday a list of 76 countries and territories from which people arriving into England will no longer need to self-isolate for 14 days.

The list includes Spain, Germany, France and Italy. But the US, Thailand, China and Portugal are among the notable names that do not to appear.

Those passing through Gatwick Airport’s north terminal early on Friday morning admitted they would not be travelling if they were still required to self-isolate for two weeks on their return.

“We probably would have gone later,” said Ray Gordge, 64, from Taunton, who was on his way to Paris to see his daughter for the first time in six months, and meet his new grandson, born last week.

“It’s exciting, I’m pleased the quarantine has been lifted to be honest,” he said. “It’s nice to have a bit more normality.”

Mr Gordge said he only booked his easyJet flight in the last few days, but had no concerns about travelling.

At the Gatwick Airport north terminal on Friday morning, signs encouraged travellers wearing face masks to keep their distance from one another, while hand sanitising stations dotted concourses.

Social distancing was in force at security, with cleaning in progress, while at duty free screens were up to protect workers and signs told shoppers not to overly handle products.

Passengers arrive at Heathrow Airport (REUTERS)
Passengers arrive at Heathrow Airport (REUTERS)

Danny Grabauskas, 67, from Devon, was travelling with his daughter and wife to visit his son – who is about to welcome a new addition to the family – in Basel, Switzerland.

A “well chuffed” Mr Grabauskas admitted he felt “nervous” about flying, adding: “I suppose the face masks make me think it should be OK, I would be nervous if it wasn’t everybody wearing masks.

“I tend to trust people when they say we can go… otherwise I wouldn’t be here. We can’t let this (coronavirus) rule our lives, because we don’t know how long we’re going to be in this situation.”

Reflecting on the relaxation of travel quarantine rules, Mr Grabauskas added: “We had this booked for a while and we were sweating on it and if this hadn’t changed today we would be cancelling and not going.”

Passengers arrive at UK airports as quarantinue rules are lifted (Getty Images)
Passengers arrive at UK airports as quarantinue rules are lifted (Getty Images)

Also travelling from Gatwick Airport was Eoin Burgin, a 21-year-old student at Edinburgh University.

He said his enjoyment of travel “isn’t really dampened” by the coronavirus pandemic and argued the airport experience had been made “nicer” by social distancing.

“It’s much more clearly outlined what you need to do and where you need to go, I think boarding is going to be easier.”

A “very excited” Mr Burgin said he was heading to Basel in Switzerland to see his girlfriend for the first time in about five months.

Commenting on the relaxation of travel quarantine rules, he admitted: “I wouldn’t be going if the changes hadn’t been made.”

Asked if he felt safe flying, Mr Burgin said: “It depends how busy the flight is going to be.

“I think it’s going to be difficult to maintain social distancing, but I also think the chances of coming into contact with someone with Covid is pretty low and they seem pretty on the ball with masks and things.”

The happy scenes of families reuniting came as Heathrow Airport's boss, John Holland-Kaye, said the aviation industry has been "devastated" by the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, he said the Government decision to ease the rules is "really welcome" and said it allows the UK to get its economy back on track.

Mr Holland-Kaye said on Friday morning: "Aviation has obviously been devastated by the pandemic. Passenger numbers fell by 97 per cent through the second quarter of the year.

"So this has really had a devastating blow and has led to unfortunately a number of job losses being announced.

"The Government's announcement of air bridges and opening up so many countries last week to free travel is a really welcomed decision.

"It allows us to get people flying again and getting the economy back to normal."

Stewart Wingate, CEO of Gatwick Airport, hailed the relaxation of travel quarantine rules.

“For our airport it makes a massive difference,” he said.

“The reason being, about 75 per cent of the destinations we serve are now quarantine free for passengers coming back into Gatwick.

“From a consumer point of view what we’re hoping is that will persuade people to take advantage of the flights.”

During the height of the coronavirus lockdown he said flights from Gatwick had dropped to as low as two or three a day.

More than 500 airport staff have taken part in a voluntary redundancy programme, while 80 per cent of workers remain furloughed.

Mr Wingate said there would be 50 flights at the airport on Friday, with this rising to 100 by the end of the month and possibly to 300 or 400 per day later in the summer.

In normal periods the airport handles 900 flights, he added.

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