Growing UK calls for Covid-19 testing at airports for international flights has been echoed by the US travel industry.
Pressure is mounting on the UK government to alter its stance with warnings from business leaders in national newspapers today that quarantine restrictions were wrecking trade prospects.
The Daily Mail led the charge today with a call on its front page for prime minister Boris Johnson to “get Britain flying again”.
Friday’s Mail: “Boris, let’s get Britain flying again!” #TomorrowsPapersToday#BBCPaperspic.twitter.com/qQZ1ZM7RIF
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) September 3, 2020
Former prime minister Tony Blair said testing at airports was essential to reopening the economy.
He added: “Testing after travel will reduce quarantine and eventually replace it altogether.
“By maximising all the testing capacity at our disposal and continuing to bring online new, innovative on-the-spot tests, we can do this now. It will be essential to getting international travel back and revitalising the economy.”
And the heads of Virgin Atlantic and Heathrow warned of the huge number of jobs at stake.
The latest developments follow The Telegraph launching a campaign calling for Covid-19 testing to be introduced at airports and ports by Christmas.
The move came as a UK poll revealed that 62% of the population supports a test over a 14-day quarantine. More than half would be willing to cover the cost.
The US Travel Association made its plea as the broader airline industry in the country argued for Washington to introduce a pilot testing programme.
USTA public affairs and policy executive vice president Tori Emerson Barnes said: “We have long maintained that testing is the key to both safer travel and reopening the economy.
“More rapid, efficient testing allows for a broader reopening of the travel economy, and will enable organisations to more quickly restore lost jobs and rehire workers.
“Importantly, a robust testing programme would allow America to welcome back international visitors, a segment of travel that has effectively disappeared since the start of the pandemic.
“Increased Covid-19 testing – paired with a federal framework of relief, protection and stimulus, as well as adherence to healthy travel habits such as wearing masks – can help shorten the recovery time and put America on the path toward an economic revival.
“We applaud the US airlines for their efforts to move this issue forward, and we will continue to advocate for greater federal involvement in Covid-19 testing.”
