Major airlines have published fresh updates for customers in the wake of last weekend’s Spain travel quarantine announcement.
New UK rules state that all passengers arriving from Spain willneed to self-isolate for two weeks due to the country experiencing a sudden surge in coronavirus infections.
Officials are discouraging all “non-essential” journeys to Spain, with an alarming rise in case numbers recorded on consecutive days last week.
The UK Government moved quickly to block the air bridge agreement – which allows passengers to move freely between countries without having to quarantine.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called the response “unjust”.
The head of Spanish government is keen for tourism to continue, and is urging Britain to reconsider its decision on the basis that COVID-19 cases are contained to specific regions.
Talks are ongoing and guidelines are subject to change, but in the meantime, many major airlines have been forced to act.
Easyjet, Ryanair, Tui, Jet2 and British Airways have all published updates for passengers.
EasyJet’s flights to Spain will continue, but holiday packages have temporarily been put on hold.
The airline said it only offered holidays to destinations where self-isolation on arrival or return was not required.
In a statement to customers, the airline said it was “disappointed that the Government has decided to impose a quarantine requirement for those travelling from the whole of Spain since the increased occurrence of coronavirus is regional rather than nationwide.”
EasyJet representatives added: “We plan to operate our full schedule in the coming days.”
Ryanair
Ryanair is continuing to operate its flight schedule to Spain as normal.
Chief Financial Officer Neil Sorahan said: “As things stand, the market remains open, the schedules remain in place and we continue to operate in and out of Spain as normal.”
The airline’s Chief Executive Michael O’Leary has been highly critical of the Government’s quarantine measures, calling the latest announcement a “badly managed overreaction”.
TUI
TUI has cancelled all flights and holidays to mainland Spain until August 9.
It had initially hoped to continue routes to the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands, but these flights have now also been halted until at least August 1.
The airline said any customers due to fly to mainland Spain can claim a full refund or change their holiday dates.
Jet2 has grounded its flights to Spain until August 17.
All customers affected are set to be contacted, with refunds available.
The airline is advising customers to keep an eye on updates given how the situation was “fast-moving” and subject to change.
A Jet2 spokesperson said: “For customers who are due to travel to Mainland Spain from 17th August onwards, we will provide an additional update once we receive further information from the government.”
British Airways
British Airways said it will continue to operate flights to and from Spain for the time being.
A message on their website states: “If you no longer wish to travel to Spain from the UK, or travel from Spain to the UK, you can claim a voucher for future travel.
“If you are returning from Spain and wish to make a change to you booking, please contact us.”
Travel information continues to be updated regularly, so be sure to check your airline’s website to stay up up-to-date.
News
Urgent appeal issued following serious road traffic collision involving motorcyclist on M60
Emily Sergeant
An urgent appeal has been issued following a serious road traffic collision on the M60.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are appealing for information and dash-cam footage, as well as urging witnesses to come forward, after a motorcyclist suffered life-threatening injuries during a collision on the M60 this past Saturday (12 July).
Shortly after 1:40pm, police were called a report of a collision involving a motorbike on the anti-clockwise side of the motorway, between junctions 25 and 24.
When patrols responded and arrived on the scene, they found a man in his 50s – believed to be the motorcyclist – with life-threatening injuries, and was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment in an air ambulance, with his family being informed in the process.
An urgent appeal has been issued following a serious road traffic collision involving motorcyclist on the M60 / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The M60 was closed in one direction, between Bredbury and Denton, following the crash from around 2:30pm onwards, and all traffic was diverted while investigations were ongoing.
GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit is in the process of conducting enquiries, and at this time, it isn’t believed that any other vehicle was involved in this incident.
This is why police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or who has dash-cam footage, to get in on contact.
Police have also thanked the members of the public who stopped by the roadside to give the man initial first aid before emergency services arrived.
Police issue update on Oasis arrests and fence-jumpers
Daisy Jackson
Greater Manchester Police have shared an update on the arrests made at the opening two nights of Oasis Live ’25.
More than 100,000 people have flocked up to Heaton Park on Friday and Saturday evening for the first two of five Oasis reunion shows.
And largely, things have gone without a hitch, with only 15 arrests made so far.
The majority of these are arrests on suspicion of fraud, with five men and a woman in three separate incidents attempting to access the Oasis gig with fake accreditation.
Another man was arrests on suspicion of assaulting a member of security staff.
Two more men were arrested on suspicion of assault – a section 18 inside the Oasis gig at Heaton Park, and another for a section 47 outside.
Police have also said that ‘a number of people’ have attempted to access the gigs without tickets, with a perimeter gate breached on Saturday night, but ‘failed to do so’.
Five drones which breached airspace restrictions were seized on Friday.
A Section 34 Dispersal Order, which gives officers the power to direct individuals to leave a specified area and not return for 48 hours, has been in place for each night of the Oasis concerts so far.
This will be re-assessed before each concert this week, with the Gallagher brothers back at Heaton Park on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
GMP around Manchester ahead of the Oasis reunion shows. Credit: GMP
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle said: “We have been planning for these events for several months, working with partners and the organisers to make sure everyone can enjoy the concerts safely. To that end, I’m pleased to say that the first two Oasis homecoming events have been a success.
“What has been especially pleasing is how more than 100,000 people have enjoyed these iconic events safely and without trouble.
“We will have a highly visible presence in and around Heaton Park, and across the city, to ensure the next three events continue to pass safely.
“A number of people without tickets attempted to gain entry through a perimeter gate on Saturday night but failed to do so.
Credit: The Manc GroupCredit: Tiktok benwalkerofficialPolice say ‘just 15’ arrests made at Oasis so far
“We continue to support the event organisers and the local authority with their plans preventing any unauthorised access to the arena site.
“While arrests have thankfully been minimal, we have had to take some suspects to custody, including one after an alleged assault on a steward on Saturday night. We will not tolerate any abuse of anyone doing their job.
“On Friday night we also dealt with a number of breaches of airspace restrictions involving drones where our officers seized five drones and spoke to two other pilots.
“We continue to have airspace restrictions in place on the nights of the concerts and anyone found breaching the one-and-a-half-mile restriction zone could face prosecution.”
The Manc -
28th July 2020 
