Brits could soon visit 45 countries as airlines beg gov to lift 14-day quarantine and offer air bridges instead

UK airlines have called for the government to stop the controversial 14-day quarantine restrictions for 45 countries and to offer air bridges with them instead.

Brits could soon visit Spain, Greece and Portugal, which all feature on the list, along with Turkey, Mexico and the US.

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The list of 45 destinations has been sent to the government, according to , and has been agreed by airlines including British Airways, EasyJet and Virgin Atlantic.

Air bridges are instead being proposed, which would see an agreement between two countries to allow quarantine-free travel between the destinations - something already being considered for Greece and Portugal with the UK.

Aviation chief executives have reportedly warned the government that the planned 14-day quarantine for all arrivals into Britain will "kill" the travel industry.

Home Secretary Priti Patel's plan to enforce a mandatory quarantine on all incoming travellers from June 8 is expected to reach Parliament this week, with airline and airport bosses to meet government officials tomorrow when further details of the quarantine plan are revealed.

But reports that industry bosses fear a blanket quarantine could cost thousands of jobs across the travel, tourism and hospitality industries while hampering the nation's economic recovery as restrictions are eased.

Simon McNamara of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said the lifting of coronavirus measures will do nothing to help people travel if a mandatory two-week quarantine is in place.

"All the evidence we have is that this will just kill travel," Mr McNamara told The Times.

"If (governments) persist with quarantine it is effectively the same as locking down your country."

Tim Alderslade of Airlines UK also spoke to the paper, calling the quarantine "just about the worst thing (the government) could do ... to restart the economy and get aviation and tourism moving again."

Michael O’Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, has described the plans as "idiotic and unimplementable" while British Airways warned it could prevent them from relaunching flights in July.

Meanwhile, there are reports that a host of senior MPs are also unhappy with the plan in its current form.

Former Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers called for a rethink on Sunday, telling BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour: "I would very much prefer the quarantine rules ... be targeted on flights from Covid hotspots."

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"I think we really do need to find ways to ease travel between this country and other countries like Italy and Spain and France where not only are there important business connections but people do desperately want to be able to take their summer holiday.

"So I appreciate why the Government is bringing in quarantine but I do think that applying it in a blanket way across the board is an over-reaction.

"And my understanding is that the government is actively looking at air bridges and to try to target this requirement in a more focused way and I really hope they're able to do that rather than bringing it in across the board."

France has already hit back at the quarantine, warning they would follow similar measures in reciprocation if it is enforced.

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An open letter from more than more than 200 UK travel firms has also called for the 14-day quarantine to be scrapped.

, which includes tour operator Mr & Mrs Smith as well as luxury hotels The Ritz and Hyatt Regency, said: "The very last thing the travel industry needs is a mandatory quarantine imposed on all arriving passengers which will deter foreign visitors from coming here."

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UK ministers are also looking into offering 20 minute coronavirus tests instead of the 14-day quarantine on anyone entering the UK.

A Department for Transport source : "What is being mooted is a mutually recognised test where a foreign businessman, say, has a test a day before flying that is accredited."