Ryanair's O'Leary says UK quarantine will be quashed or dropped

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said he believed Britain's coronavirus quarantine will be struck down by the courts or dropped within weeks as some of Europe's biggest airlines prepare to file a legal challenge by the end of Tuesday. The 14-day quarantine for international arrivals, introduced on Monday, has led to the most vociferous clash between a major industry and PM Boris Johnson's government during the COVID-19 crisis. By insisting on the quarantine despite public pleas from airline veterans such as IAG's Willie Walsh and O'Leary, Britain has united some of the fiercest rivals in aviation who are already reeling from a sudden global halt in air travel. O'Leary said he hoped a court would hear an emergency legal challenge by the end of this week to halt the quarantine - imposed just as most European countries were reopening their economies. "I think in their heart of hearts, the government would like the courts to strike it down because it would get them off the hook," the Ryanair chief said. "I think either the courts will strike it down this week or the government will quietly drop it before the end of June." The legal action, proposed by British Airways and supported by low-cost rivals Ryanair and easyJet , is seeking injunctive relief and legal papers are due to be filed on Monday or Tuesday, he added.<br/>