Ryanair chief on UK quarantine rule for travelers

The head of Europe's biggest budget airline has called the UK's new travel quarantine "a joke" and a political "stunt". Speaking to British broadcaster Sky on Monday, Ryanair's Chief Executive Michael O'Leary criticised the measure proposed by UK Home Secretary Priti Patel that requires travellers arriving in the country to self-isolate for 14 days.

The government said it will protect the UK against a second wave of coronavirus.

O'Leary said the quarantine rule was ineffective and will only increase the damage done by the pandemic to the British tourism industry.

Starting Monday, all passengers will be asked to fill in a form detailing where they will self-isolate, with only a few exceptions.

Those who fail to comply with the quarantine rules could be fined.

Ryanair's CEO estimated it would take two to three years before the global airline industry returns to pre-Covid levels, "ineffective measures like Priti Patel's useless quarantine just set that process back", he added.