Airlines, passengers, and the business sector quickly responded to a surge of travel restrictions announced over the weekend to slow the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. An initial series of flight bans from South Africa, where the new variant was first discovered, led to broader measures making travel more expensive and less convenient, reminiscent of the early days of the pandemic.
The United Kingdom, for its part, has implemented new rules requiring mandatory PCR tests for all incoming passengers and stated that they must self-isolate until they receive a negative virus result. Meanwhile, Israel has closed its airports to all incoming foreigners for 14 days, while the Philippines announced that travelers from European countries, including Switzerland and the Netherlands, would not be welcomed for several weeks. Spain and Switzerland emphasized restrictions on arrivals from Britain, which soon reversed their travel comeback.
Low-cost British carrier EasyJet Plc stated on Sunday that its flight schedule operates as usual, "but we continue to monitor the situation closely." Organizers of the London International Aviation Festival informed attendees that the event would proceed as planned starting Tuesday, the day the UK's new rules take effect. The group arranged for testing at two nearby hotels where delegates can self-isolate while awaiting results.
Airlines now face a return to uncertainty regarding rule changes and public health developments that have disrupted customers' plans and undermined demand earlier in the pandemic.
British Airways has suspended flights to Hong Kong at least until November 30 after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, and employees have been sent into quarantine. The airline stated it is keeping its operations under review as the situation evolves. Singapore and Japan are also considering tightening restrictions on incoming travelers. Amid concerns regarding the pandemic, airline stocks have already dropped, with the Bloomberg index tracking airlines in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa falling 18% this month.
