LONDON (UK) – Heathrow Airport urged the government to introduce a passenger testing regime, warning that failure to do so would lose a game of global “quarantine roulette”.
As the travel industry restarted, fears are looming large about a possible second shutdown after the country imposed a quarantine on those returning from Spain.
“The UK needs a passenger testing regime and fast,” Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said. “Without it, Britain is just playing a game of quarantine roulette.”
“Our European competitors are racing ahead with passenger testing, if the UK doesn’t act soon global Britain will be nothing more than a campaign slogan,” he said.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson came under attack for being too slow to come out with a nationwide testing programme and the government’s home testing scheme was plagued with delays.
Meanwhile, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “There’s not a silver bullet of just testing immediately at the border. It can incubate over a period of time so there’s not a silver bullet of just testing immediately at the border.”
Airlines and the aviation industry have been pummelled with passenger numbers falling 96% in the second quarter while cargo volumes dipped 30%. There was an 85% drop in revenue. Heathrow, however, said its finances remained robust with sufficient funds to last until June next year without any revenue.
“We have agreed a waiver on financial covenants until the end of 2021 and maintained our Investment Grade credit rating status,” it said.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field