Heathrow has reopened Terminal 4 as a dedicated facility for arrivals from red list countries.
The airport said the move, from Wednesday afternoon, would help keep direct red list arrivals away from other passengers, allowing “a more efficient journey for all passengers, alongside a multiple layered approach that will keep passengers and colleagues safe”.
Safety measures across the airport include mandatory use of face coverings, robotic cleaning regimes, enhanced ventilation in immigration halls and the use of Covid marshals.
Heathrow said all passengers could pre-book PCR test either on-site or close to the airport to speed up post-arrival testing requirements.
Chief operating officer Emma Gilthorpe said: “We are supportive of measures that protect public health and prevent the spread of Covid. The rapid introduction of restrictions for international travel will nonetheless be a further significant blow for British exporters and those wanting to visit friends and relatives.
“Keeping the changes under constant review and a government commitment to the removal of red list countries, as soon as it is safe to do so, will help. Heathrow maintains the highest levels of Covid-secure measures to ensure our passengers, colleagues and partners know that Heathrow is a safe place to travel to and from.”