The first arrivals required to quarantine in hotels touched down in Scotland today in accordance with new rules for international travellers.
Passengers on board a flight from Istanbul arrived just after 11.30am into Edinburgh and were quickly whisked off onto a waiting bus for onward transport.
Dozens of people were expected to disembark the Turkish Airlines flight, with 65 seats booked on the journey.
However just four passengers were aboard, prompting fears that scores of travellers may have taken advantage of a “loophole” in the system.
A source close to the airport expressed concern that those due to travel may have rebooked their flights to English airports with a view to crossing the border to Scotland by car or train.
Scotland’s more stringent policy requires all international travellers to self-isolate.
In England, only arrivals from 33 designated “red list” countries need to isolate.
From Monday 15 February, international arrivals in Scotland must present a negative covid-19 test and pay £1,750 to self-isolate at one of six designated hotels in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Passengers from within the Common Travel Area, which includes the rest of the UK and Ireland, do not need to isolate.
Prior to the first flight’s arrival Transport Secretary Michael Mathieson issued a warning about the discrepancy between national policies.
He told the BBC's The Sunday Show: "It is a loophole that has been created by the UK Government and its failure to take action on the basis of the clinical, expert advice that has been provided on this matter.”
The First Minister says she believes it is important to go “as far as possible” to help limit the spread of the new coronavirus variant which has prompted the new rules.
Ms Sturgeon said: “At the moment anyone who lands at an airport elsewhere in the UK and then travels on to Scotland won't be put into a hotel for managed isolation if their flight is from a destination outside the UK's list of high-risk countries.
"The reason why we have decided to adopt stricter rules is because we think it is important to go as far as we can."
Ms Sturgeon also stressed that a common approach to travel restrictions across the four nations of the UK would be "preferable" and indicated Scottish ministers would try to persuade the UK Government "to adopt more comprehensive measures".
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock has since said he is happy to discuss the matter with the Scottish Government.
Among the four arrivals were a mother travelling with her young child and baby and a young man travelling alone.
Both parties were escorted by staff in hi-vis jackets to a waiting bus bound for the Hilton Double Tree hotel, where they will have to quarantine for ten days.
The introduction of the rules has seen a new process and special measures put in place for international arrivals.
Upon landing, international passengers must present their negative tests and have their details checked by border force.
They are then led to a separate holding area where staff from security firm G4S remain with them as their hotel details are verified.
They are then escorted along a bifurcated corridor to their transport and driven directly to their hotels.
On arrival at their destination, they will be given two home testing kits to be used on days two and eight of isolation.
These kits are included in the cost along with three meals per day, fruit and soft drinks.
If they record a positive test result, guests must stay a further ten days in their hotel at an additional charge starting at £152 daily for the first adult.
