Heathrow says Covid tests needed for years even with vaccine

Airline passengers will need to take Covid-19 tests before flying long after a vaccine for the viral infection is introduced, according to the head of the airport that was Europe’s busiest before the pandemic struck. The time required for a global vaccine roll-out means testing must go hand-in-hand with inoculation if international travel is to return to meaningful levels, Heathrow airport CEO John Holland-Kaye said Wednesday. “Even with the UK getting early access to a vaccine it’ll take a year and a half to vaccinate the entire country,” Holland-Kaye said. “It’s going to take much longer before even the fastest vaccine can really have a massive impact around the world.” International flights have barely revived from groundings earlier this year as countries impose travel curbs to stem fresh outbreaks of the coronavirus. While Pfizer Inc.’s announcement of a vaccine that appears to prevent 90% of infections buoyed airline stocks, it’s not clear how air-transport regulators will respond and how quickly the breakthrough will benefit the industry. The current imperative is to quickly introduce Covid-19 tests for people arriving in the UK from high-risk areas in order to slash quarantine periods that are putting almost all potential customers off flying, Holland-Kaye said. Later, pre-departure tests should see people screened 72 hours before flying and again on landing, potentially obviating the need for self-isolation, the CEO said. Testing could ultimately be eased as countries get the disease under control, aided by a vaccine, though it may take “a number of years to get to that point.” UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Monday that a task force is making good progress toward a plan for testing on arrival, which will be introduced once the current national clampdown is eased, though he didn’t specify when.<br/>