Heathrow boss urges pre-board virus trial on New York flights

The boss of London Heathrow airport is urging the UK and USA to cooperate on a pilot programme to test passengers flying between London and New York for Covid-19 before they board to avoid them having to quarantine on arrival. Such a scheme, using the latest testing technology that can provide results within hours, would help kick-start one of the world’s busiest long-haul air routes and restore wider confidence in aviation, says John Holland-Kaye. Holland-Kaye said a bilateral initiative could be “up and running within a week or two” if both governments agreed on common testing standards. “The UK is in a perfect position to lead this effort,” he says. Holland-Kaye suggests that with current coronavirus infection rates below 1% in most countries, the vast majority of would-be travelers are virus-free. Yet, worries about importing cases has led many nations, including the UK, to impose quarantine restrictions of up to 14 days on those arriving from much of the world, with lists of at-risk territories changing at short notice. “Few people will fly with this quarantine roulette,” he says. “We need a process that ensures that the 99% or more of people who do not have Covid can begin travelling again.”<br/>