French govt warns of tit-for-tat response after UK removes travel corridor

France has warned it will reciprocate after the UK government took it off the ‘travel corridor’ list.

Immediately after the announcement, late on Thursday night, that anyone arriving into the UK after 4am on Saturday would have to quarantine, French junior minister for European affairs Clément Beaune tweeted: "A British decision that we regret and which will lead to a measure of reciprocity, hoping that things will return to normal as soon as possible."

French authorities could insist UK arrivals to France would need to self-isolate for 14 days which, along with the UK government’s new ruling, would make travel between both countries unlikely for most people.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps insisted the government had no choice, after France reported a 66% increase in new coronavirus cases over the past week, with a daily average of four times the figures in May.

France has declared Paris and the area around Marseille as coronavirus ‘red zones’.

Shapps said: "It’s a dynamic situation, and I don’t think that anybody would want us to do anything other than protect public health and public safety.

"That does mean where we see countries breach a certain level of cases … then we have no real choice but to act," he told Sky News.

He told BBC Breakfast: "There is no perfect way to deal with coronavirus."

There are reports of Brits scrambling to ports and train departure points in a bid to get back the UK before the Saturday 4am deadline, but transport operators have warned them not to turn up unless they have a booking.

Eurotunnel Le Shuttle warned on Thursday night that no extra capacity was being planned and customers must book online before travelling to the French terminal. Many flights have also sold out, with reports prices increased dramatically since the announcement.

The company said:  "To avoid long queues and severe disruption we strongly advise against turning up at the terminal outside the allocated time."

John Keefe, Director of Public Affairs for Channel Tunnel operator Getlink told BBC’s Newsnight: "We just haven’t got the space to take everybody who might suddenly want to come up to the coast. What we are saying to people is amend your booking online, make sure there’s space before you travel to the terminal."

He said there was some possibility of adding additional trains in the off-peak periods, but warned: "The important thing is that people understand that it’s not going to be easy to get back and they have to be sensible about this and not get themselves into difficulties."

Trade bodies have responded with frustration at the government’s latest quarantine list announcement, which has also seen five other countries added: the Netherlands, Malta, Monaco, Turks & Caicos and Aruba.

Airlines UK Chief Executive Tim Alderslade said: "It’s another devastating blow to the travel industry already reeling from the worst crisis in its history.

"Having the political will to move to a sub-national approach to quarantine, in addition to a testing regime for arriving passengers so that those testing negative can avoid having to self-isolate – which other countries like Germany have already implemented – is urgently needed."

Airport Operators Association Chief Executive Karen Dee said: "Our airports are facing pressures that were unimaginable six months ago and it is essential that the government work with the industry to introduce regional travel corridors to low-risk areas and agree a package of financial measures that support our airports who have already lost over £2 billion since the start of the pandemic.

"We have consistently called for support including relief from business rates and an extension to employment support beyond October and it is long overdue that the Government provides the same level of support to aviation that it has provided to other sectors."

ABTA warned: "The government’s measures to restrict travel will result in livelihoods being lost unless it can step in with tailored support for the travel industry.

"The announcements relating to Spain, and now France, impact the two biggest destinations for British holidaymakers at the height of the summer season, affecting an industry that has had its trade significantly restricted since the start of this crisis.

"At this time of recession, a plan is urgently needed to protect the 221,000 jobs the travel industry sustains."

By Lisa James, Deputy Editor, UK