Since lockdown measure were introduced in the UK on the 23rd of March, over 1,300 private jets have arrived in or flown out of the country
Over 1,300 private jets have flown in and out of the UK since government lockdown measures have been implemented in the country.
The British government has called for people not to use any “non-essential travel”, which according to its travel guidelines includes “visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar – whether for isolation purposes or holidays.”
People obeying these simple guidelines may now feel betrayed by the wealthier residents within the UK after knowing that over 1,300 flights in and out of the country have occurred since the measures were put in place.
A new report by the Sunday Times has revealed that the world’s wealthiest are still flying to and from the UK in private jets, depite the current COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measures within the UK.
1,312 flights on private jets have taken place since stay at home measures were introduced by the government.
545 of these flights were arriving in the UK from areas that have been badly hit by the coronavirus outbreak, such as Spain, France and the United States.
A source told the Times:
“These are some of the wealthiest people who count the UK as their home, who are fleeing to second homes since the lockdown was imposed.”
Other countries such as Hong Kong and South Korea, have been testing those entering the country for COVID-19 at the airport.
The United States has banned incoming travellers who are non-residents of the country, however the UK has not introduced any stricter travel restrictions to prevent any further imported cases of the coronavirus.
According to WingX, an aviation consultancy, the most private flights landing in the UK were from Germany with 32, France with 27 and Spain with 25. 15 flights had also come into the country were from the US.
Speaking to the Times, Air Charter Service chief executive Justin Bowman defended a number of the private jet flights. He said, “Governments are facing huge challenges moving people from different parts of the world back to the UK, where they are stranded.”
“The airlines stopped pretty much overnight. There are still thousands of people in the wrong place. Many of these flights will be legitimate repatriations from around the world. I would hope those abusing the rules are in the minority.”
Clive Jackson, founder of private jet firm Victor also added, “We have an obligation not to flout the rules as we have an essential part to play in the Covid crisis, providing genuine medical evacuation and repatriation for families in distress.”
The private aviation industry has faced controversy before the outbreak had begun, with the Labour party expressing its desire in 2019 to ban the use of private jets from UK airports by 2025, due to their severely damaging carbon footprint.
