Airport testing is vital to save an industry ‘on the brink’

Holiday quarantine rules have eroded consumer confidence and airport Covid-19 testing is the only way to open up international travel and restore demand, say industry bosses. The travel sector faces weekly chaos under the Government’s current approach whereby the list of countries that are quarantine-exempt is updated every Thursday. “We desperately need to open up international travel again and testing – alongside a more targeted regional quarantine policy – is the only way to do that,” said a spokesperson for industry body Airlines UK. Travel leaders responded to news that the Government is due to make an announcement on airport testing “in the coming days,” which followed Heathrow’s signal that its testing trial could start later this month. "We can see Brits really want a holiday but their confidence to book one continues to erode as the rules around travel and lockdowns change [...] a robust testing regime in place at airports will help boost confidence," said Alan French, CE of Thomas Cook.<br/>