Airlines and airports are bracing for chaos on Monday after they were issued with strict new quarantine rules on Friday afternoon, leaving them with a race to implement them. Passengers arriving in the UK must fill out an online form 48 hours before they travel. Operational guidance issued to airlines on how the 14-day quarantine will be administered, seen by The Telegraph, reveals those flying and airlines face hefty fines for failing to comply with the rules. A 23-page document was shared with bosses shortly before 4pm on Friday, with orders that the rules need to be in place by Monday morning. The timing of the Government edict is likely to further anger airlines. British Airways’ parent company is considering legal action in an attempt to overturn quarantine on international arrivals to the UK. Willie Walsh, chief executive of IAG, said he was consulting lawyers about a legal challenge to protect airlines from an “irrational and disproportionate” measure that would wreck the aviation industry. Ryanair said it would support “any legal action launched by IAG against this ineffective quarantine.” EasyJet is understood to have backed the legal challenge. The Luton-based airline declined to comment.
