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restrictions last week, but epidemiologist Sir David Skegg told the committee: “The price we’re paying for relaxing internal restrictions is having tight border restrictions. The New Zealand population is keen to enjoy what we’ve achieved and not put that at risk.” The scientific advisors
differed on the rationale for imposing quarantine at this stage. Leung warned: “Hong
Kong, Singapore and London Heathrow are international travel hubs. You need to be extremely aware of transit [passengers] if thinking about any kind of ‘travel bubbles’ or ‘air bridges’.” Teo insisted: “Now is not
too late to put in measures. Like London, Singapore is a travel hub. We know border controls incur a significant impact on aviation and tourism, but it does allow the rest of the economy to recover if the infection is contained.” However, Skeggs said: “It’s
not clear what the UK strategy is. Border restrictions may still be effective. It depends on the strategy. New Zealand continues to trade. Our tourism is on hold, but there are enormous benefits to our economy being able to function as normal.” In Singapore, all incoming or
returning travellers are required to enter quarantine for 14 days and are not allowed to leave a designated hotel. In Hong Kong, all inbound
passengers undergo viral PCR testing. If they test positive they go to hospital, if negative they go to 14-day quarantine. In New Zealand, arrivals are
quarantined for 14 days in a hotel under supervision. Self-isolation was dropped after being flouted.
BA is ‘national disgrace’ on job cuts, pay – MPs
Ian Taylor
MPs have branded British Airways “a national disgrace” for slashing jobs and wages while utilising the Job Retention Scheme. A report on ‘The Impact of
the Coronavirus Pandemic on the Aviation Sector’ by Parliament’s transport select committee, released on Saturday, brands BA’s cutting of 12,000 jobs and decision to fire and rehire remaining staff “a calculated attempt to take advantage of the pandemic” and “a national disgrace in light of the scale of taxpayer subsidy”.
BA is cutting 12,000 jobs
Committee chairman Huw
Merriman MP said: “We looked closely at BA’s plans to consult on at least 12,000 redundancies and change the terms and conditions of the bulk of its employees. It is unacceptable that a company would seek to drive this level of change under the cover of a pandemic.” He said: “The behaviour of BA
and its parent company IAG falls well below the standards expected from any employer. This wanton destruction of a loyal workforce cannot go without sanction by government.” The report recommends the
government revise the rules of the Job Retention Scheme “to prevent or strongly penalise companies making large-scale redundancies while in receipt of funds”. It notes MPs’ calls for ministers to
strip BA of some of its slots, especially at Heathrow, and calls for a Competi- tion and Markets Authority investiga- tion of “the whole aviation industry”. Aviation minister Kelly Tolhurst
described BA’s actions as “a breach of faith” when she appeared before the committee earlier this month. Tolhurst agreed the job scheme
“was not funded by taxpayers to support the wages of workers for these jobs to be cut” and said: “We’ll see how BA is judged by consumers.” Trade unions hailed MPs’
criticism of BA. Unite general secretary Len McCluskey accused the carrier of “a transparent effort to generate profits out of a crisis”, while pilots’ association Balpa said “the committee is right to brand the behaviour of BA a national disgrace”.
Government urged to state that RCNs are covered by Atol
The transport select committee of MPs has concluded that Refund Credit Notes are protected under Atol and called on the government to explain why the 14-day deadline for package-holiday refunds was not extended. A committee report published
on Saturday states: “If the original booking was protected by Atol, the
30 18 JUNE 2020
Refund Credit Note should provide the same protection.” It quotes Abta chief Mark
Tanzer’s evidence to the committee that Abta “had verbal confirmation” from the CAA that the existing Atol terms cover Refund Credit Notes and repeats Abta’s warning that “if people lose confidence in Refund Credit Notes . . . you will see a lot of travel companies fail”. The MPs conclude: “The
government should set out clearly the circumstances under which a Refund Credit Note . . . is protected by the Atol scheme.” In addition, they say it “should clarify why an extension
Mark Tanzer
to the legal deadline for issuing refunds was not implemented”. The MPs say: “We have some
sympathy with the view that the legal time limits for refunds should have been extended in the current circumstances.”
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