Nearly 50 airline and airport bosses have signed a letter to UK prime minister Boris Johnson asking him to replace blanket quarantine measures for high-risk countries with regional travel corridors that would allow those travelling from destinations within those countries where the coronavirus infection rate is low to avoid the self-isolation period.

The letter, signed by the bosses of airlines such as British Airways, Easyjet, as well as airports such as Heathrow and trade association ABTA, comes after the government re-introduced blanket quarantine requirements for the whole of Spain over the weekend with very little notice. Travel companies argue the restrictions are too harsh given Spain¡¯s recent spike in coronavirus cases has largely been limited to certain cities and regions on the mainland. The government initially hinted that it was looking to establish air bridges with the country's islands, but the Foreign and Commonwealth Office later updated its advice warning Brits against all but essential travel to all regions, including the Balearic and Canary Islands.

¡°We are in a situation where the government is advising against travel to areas of Spain that have lower rates of Covid than the UK,¡± the letter said.

According to the letter, the move risks ¡®permanently scarring¡¯ the travel industry, with the sudden imposition of quarantine damaging consumer confidence. The Business Travel Association said earlier this week that the news means corporates are unlikely to be confident enough to return to travelling this year.

The aviation bosses said establishing regional travel corridors could also support the resumption of travel between the US and UK, which is seen as a key factor in the recovery of both airlines and the wider economy.

The letter also calls for passengers to be tested for Covid-19 on arrival to the UK, with those returning a negative result allowed to skip the self-isolation period, which is currently 14 days.

The government seems reluctant to introduce testing for incoming visitors, with culture secretary Oliver Dowden telling the BBC yesterday that testing at airports was not a ¡°silver bullet¡± because people might have a negative result and still be incubating the disease. ?

However, health secretary Matt Hancock later said the government is investigating whether testing people during the self-isolation period would allow them to be released early. But he added that an announcement is not to be expected ¡°imminently¡± and the guidance is unlikely to change within ¡°the next few days¡±.

This is not the first time passenger testing has been proposed. In June, airport services firm Swissport and management services provider Collinson put forward a plan to offer a ?140 PCR test at certain airports, with results available within 24 hours.