UK Airlines Urge Boris Johnson to Introduce German-Style Covid-19 Tests at Airports

Strategic Insights -

Leading airlines have written to Boris Johnson, pressing for the introduction of mandatory Covid-19 tests at UK airports, modeled on the German system, to enable passengers to bypass quarantine. The airline chief executives argue that this measure is essential for restoring transatlantic trade routes, particularly with the US, which accounts for 15% of the UK's trade and 19% of its exports.

Key Takeaways:

  • The chief executives of British Airways, TUI, easyJet, and Virgin Atlantic have written to Boris Johnson, urging the introduction of German-style Covid-19 tests at UK airports.
  • The airlines believe that this measure would enable passengers from "high risk" states to travel freely to the UK, restoring transatlantic trade routes, particularly with the US.
  • The average length of stay for US visitors to the UK is 6.47 nights, and the airlines argue that the current 14-day quarantine is untenable for US trade.
  • Many countries, including Germany, France, China, India, UAE, and Iceland, have introduced tests and the UK risks falling behind if it does not follow suit.
  • The airlines suggest introducing a UK testing protocol based on the German model, which would stimulate significant demand while protecting public health.
  • Testing should be introduced alongside regional "air bridges" that allow quarantine-free travel to the UK from "low risk" areas within higher risk countries.
  • Heathrow Airport has offered to pilot tests for the Government that could allow passengers to avoid quarantine after seven or 10 days.
  • The airlines warn that blanket quarantine is "particularly damaging" for US-UK trade, and testing offers a balance that manages the risk of Covid-19 spreading while minimising inconvenience to travellers.

Statistics:

  • The average length of stay for US visitors to the UK is 6.47 nights.
  • The US accounts for 15% of the UK's trade and 19% of its exports.
  • Germany introduced a mandatory free single PCR test on arrival regime for higher risk countries in early August.
  • The UK risks falling behind if it does not follow suit, with countries like Germany, France, China, India, UAE, and Iceland having introduced tests.

Sources:

  • "Britain's biggest airlines write to Boris Johnson over quarantine rules" (The Telegraph)
  • "Airlines urge Boris Johnson to scrap Covid-19 quarantine for air passengers" (The Times)
  • "UK airlines lobby Boris Johnson for Covid-19 test system" (BBC News)