Aviation leaders are increasingly concerned at the government’s delay in publishing a list of providers of Covid-19 tests for the test to release scheme for arriving travellers due to launch on December 15.
The scheme, announced in November, will allow passengers to book and pay for a Covid test before arriving in the UK then cut short quarantine with a negative test after five days self-isolation.
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK which represents British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair and Virgin Atlantic, said: “The issue is the government has still not published the list of testing providers approved to carry out these tests.”
The list could be published today (December 14), just a day before the scheme launches.
Alderslade told a Travel Weekly Insight Report launch event: “Most large carriers have commercial arrangements in place with testing providers. So there should be a fairly seamless process [to book a test] as passengers go through the booking process, much like hiring a car.”
But he said: “What we don’t know until the government sets out the list of providers is what the cost will be, how many providers there are and where the tests will take place.”
Alderslade insisted: “The government deserves a lot of credit for pushing through with the global travel taskforce which put us ahead of most other countries in terms of a test and release scheme of just five days.
“It’s what the industry called for. It’s a really positive step and we’ve seen an uptick in demand since the announcement a couple of weeks ago.”
But he added: “We need a smooth unveiling of the scheme, then as quickly as possible in the New Year we need a system whereby we remove quarantine.”
Alderslade noted: “The devolved administrations did not wish to follow suit and that is an issue.
“We’re looking forward to a seamless process from the December 15 and, hopefully, to the devolved administrations coming on board.”
Travel Weekly warned last week that the industry is unlikely to “hit the ground running” at the launch of the test and release scheme because of the government delay in publishing the approved providers list.
An industry source noted: “Carriers are hedging their bets with test providers.”
The government has specified tests must have a sensitivity of 97% which currently means a lab-based PCR test costing about £120.
Alderslade said “it remains to be seen” how valuable the recently announced exemption from quarantine for ‘high-value’ business travellers will be.
The exemption will apply to “senior executives . . . if the business activity requires their physical presence” and will create or preserve “at least 50 UK-based jobs” or involve goods or services “worth at least £100 million”.
Alderslade said: “There are quite a few restrictions. The £100 million of economic activity is a high bar.
“Carriers coming into the UK with a lot of business passengers see it as positive, but we want to go further.
“There are countries like Finland where you can stay up to 72 hours if you present a negative PCR test done 72 hours before arrival. That is something we want to look at.
“It’s a good first step, [but] it’s not something the industry was crying out for. The fact they’ve done it is positive. We give them credit for taking a political hit for that.
“Now let’s see if we can move forwards and get more people into the country.”
Watch the full launch event and download the Travel Weekly Insight Annual Report for FREE at travelweeklyinsight.co.uk.