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BA Covid test supplier expands UK coverage

Ten new Covid-19 testing sites are set to open across the UK before the end of May.

They are being opened by Cignpost ExpressTest, a selected provider of discounted testing to British Airways.

The firm is also expanding existing airport sites, including Heathrow, Gatwick and Edinburgh to cope with expected demand when government regulations on overseas travel is relaxed.

The cost of PCR testing starts at £60 at Gatwick. 

Other sites include London Paddington, London Brent Cross, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Reading and Croydon.

The company already has 14 other testing sites across the country. 

The new sites will mean that more than three quarters of the population will be within a 60 minute drive of a test, according to the company.

BA chief executive Sean Doyle said: “We are committed to ensuring our customers can easily access affordable tests to help them on their journey.

“We believe that with a combination of vaccinations and testing, we can re-open the skies safely and we are working with specialist organisations including Cignpost ExpressTest which share our enthusiasm in finding ways to make travel as frictionless as possible.”

Cignpost Diagnostics co-founder Nick Markham said: “We want to make it as easy as possible for anyone travelling abroad to visit a Covid-19 testing site.

“These new sites now cover most of the main cities across Britain. Whatever tests are required by the government for holidays or business travel, we can deliver them at an affordable cost.

“We all know there is a pent-up demand for travelling abroad this summer but people also want to ensure they do so safely. 

“Until the threat of Covid-19 has been eliminated completely, gold standard PCR testing is going to play a vital role for everyone traveling abroad.

“This rollout will not only provide those travelling with the check they need to be able to go abroad but will also safeguard the country from importing new strains of Covid-19 from other countries.” 

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