The government has been accused of “completely disengaging” with the aviation industry over the issue of airport testing for Covid-19.
The Daily Mail reports that transport secretary Grant Shapps has not had an official meeting with Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye for a fortnight despite growing concerns over the impact over the government’s quarantine policy on the travel and aviation industries and the wider economy.
Travel Weekly has previously reported that ministers excluded the industry from discussions two weeks ago amid anger at the extent of leaks and media speculation about possible changes to the government’s safe lists and approach to quarantine.
The Mail quoted a senior aviation source, who said the Department for Transport had “stopped all engagement with the industry – this was a crazy move given the severity of the crisis”.
The source said: “Many in the industry are very angry at the lack of engagement. It has been a wall of silence.”
Derek Provan, chief executive of AGS Airports, which runs Southampton, Aberdeen and Glasgow, said: “We are isolated as an industry and they are not interested in talking to us about testing.
“We are trying to tell the government we are experts in transport but they are completely disregarding us. Why can they not at least have a conversation about it?”
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, said: “We urgently need to get passenger connectivity with key markets going again and that needs a smart testing regime instead of quarantine. The urgency cannot be overstated and we are losing time.”
The DfT told The Mail it held regular meetings with the industry was considering “if and how testing could be used to reduce the self-isolation period”.
On Friday, the transport secretary insisted airport testing was “not a silver bullet solution”. However, he confirmed in an interview with Sky News that the government was continuing to explore a two-test option which could reduce the length of time travellers were required to self-isolate.
He said: “You probably have to have some kind of quarantine period here, perhaps seven or eight days, maybe a test then. But these are the things we’re working through at the moment.”
Prime minister Boris Johnson said airport testing could offer “a false sense of security” and insisted the current quarantine system formed an important part of the government’s “toolbox” in fighting Covid-19.