UK will ‘fall further behind’ without rapid testing plan, aviation tells Govt
The airline industry has insisted a testing regime must be launched in November to avoid the UK falling further behind the rest of the world.
In a joint statement, Heathrow Airport, EasyJet, Virgin Atlantic and Manchester Airports Group called for urgent action, with a test on day five ‘the starting point’.
But it said the government must look at other measures, including a move to pre-departure testing.
"Today’s announcement is a step in the right direction by the UK Government to restart the economy and protect thousands of jobs across the country," the statement said.
"We support the decision to opt for a single test, private sector-led, passenger-funded approach, that does not impact on the NHS in any way. But travellers need a firm commitment that a comprehensive testing regime will be implemented in early November.
"A test on day five, which the Government’s own conservative evidence said would be ‘highly effective’ and which they’re already doing in Germany, should be the starting point. We encourage the Government to take a lead in moving to pre-departure testing, as well as the approval of new testing technologies, as soon as possible.
"Without a rapid move to testing, the UK will fall even further behind our competitors and the economic recovery will fail to get off the ground."
By Steve Jones, Contributing Editor
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