France Plans 14 Day Quarantine For Non-EU Travelers

The French government has announced that it would be imposing a new two-week quarantine for anyone entering France. The announcement which was made over the weekend, there was confusion because the announcement contradicts news that the country would begin to leave lockdown next Monday. The government, however, confirmed that the new rules do not apply to travellers from the United Kingdom, EU member states, or those within the Schengen region. This new clarification from the French government has ignited hopes that at least some form of international travel is set to return. However, the French citizens are still being told not to go on holiday more than 100km from their homes. The introduction of new regulations means the initial suggestion by President Macron to close all EU borders until September looks unlikely. This will come to be good news for airlines operating within the region. The two-week quarantine would limit the number of people entering Europe, making it a low probability that the aviation sector will fully recover this summer. Although France is the only country that has given hints about relaxing travel restrictions, other countries might also be ready to follow suit. The government will be giving more information about what happens after the ease of the lockdown on the 11th of May. Other European countries are already making attempts to return to normal life. Some schools are reopening, and in Spain, people have been allowed to go outside to exercise. Airlines are still operating flights for cargo, medical personnel, essential workers, and to repatriate citizens. There are positive signs for airlines and passengers, but a lot still hangs on the balance as health bodies are still working on finding a cure or vaccine for the coronavirus. Hopefully, in the coming months, countries will be recovering from and managing the virus, and we should start to see more planes in the skies.