The parent company of British Airways is considering taking legal action against the government's new 14-day quarantine rule on international arrivals into the UK.
Chief executive of International Airlines Group (IAG), Willie Walsh, has described the policy as "terrible" and warned it has “torpedoed our opportunity to get flying in July”.
He told Sky News: “We think it’s irrational, we think it’s disproportionate, and we are giving consideration to a legal challenge to this legislation.
“We’re reviewing that with the lawyers later on today.
“I suspect there are other airlines who are doing so because it’s important to point out there was no consultation with the industry prior to enacting this legislation.
“We do believe it is an irrational piece of legislation.”
From Monday June 8, the majority of people arriving in the UK will need to self-isolate for 14 days. There are exemptions for certain workers whose job it is essential to travel between borders.
There has been widespread concern that the restriction will cause damage to the travel and aviation industry as they try to recover from coronavirus.
On Wednesday, Home Secretary Priti Patel defended the rule in the Commons and said it's “backed by the science” and is “essential” to save lives.
Mr Walsh's comments come after British Airways refused to join a meeting between Ms Patel and the travel industry to discuss the quarantine on Thursday.
BA had previously said it would resume flights in July, but that those plans would be reviewed.
Len McCluskey, general secretary of union Unite, said it was “frankly irresponsible that BA would sit this out”.
The airline has announced plans to cut up to 12,000 jobs as part of a restructuring.
It was confirmed by the Bank of England on Thursday that it has lent £300 million to IAG as part of its emergency pandemic funding.
Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said he held on to “hope” that foreign trips would be able to resume before the year is out.
BBC Radio 4’s Today programme asked whether he would personally be booking a holiday this year, to which Mr Shapps replied: “Of course we all hope – let’s give ourselves some hope here – that by later in the year we will have continued to do all the things we have just talked about and got on top of this virus and the signs are in the right direction.”
In Thursday's press briefing from Downing Street on coronavirus, he reiterated the current lockdown rules say that you cannot stay overnight anywhere in the UK.
He also outlined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice which continues to say that international travel is only for essential journeys.
Mr Shapps confirmed ministers were continuing to look at the concept of so-called “air corridors” – allowing travel with countries where Covid-19 transmission was low – but said there was no impending announcement to be made.
