Brit holidaymakers arriving home from the Balearic Islands could yet be exempt from quarantine rules if attempts to establish a "safe air corridor" are successful.

The government yesterday announced that anyone entering the UK from Spain would have to self-isolate for 14 days following a spike in cases in the tourist hotspot.

But while it advises against all but essential travel to the mainland, it has stopped short of applying this same advice to the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands, although self-isolation rules still apply.

As a result, government chiefs for the Balearics - which include Ibiza and Majorca - are hoping to secure an exemption from quarantine rules to save their summer season.

They confirmed overnight they are working with the Spanish and UK governments to set up the scheme.

The Balearic Islands’ government said in a statement: “Great Britain has excluded the Balearic Islands from its recommendation to its citizens not to travel to Spain, something which means that travel insurance is still valid.

“The Balearic Islands’ government has been working over the last few hours to establish the basis for a safe air corridor with the UK, following the British government’s quarantine imposition for all holidaymakers returning from Spain.

“The British government’s decision has caused great concern in the Balearic Islands’ government, given that it will cause serious problems to tourist activity in our islands.

“One of the main arguments justifying the creation of a safe air corridor between the islands and the UK is the health situation here.

“The islands have had eight confirmed Covid-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the past fortnight, whereas in the UK the figure is 14.1 and in Spain as a whole, 37.9.”

The UK Government has yet to comment on any possible exemption.

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