Lack of airport testing risks 'irreparable damage' to UK trade, say industry chiefs

Failure to introduce tests at airports risks “irreparably damaging” Britain’s trade routes and losing the vision of a Global Britain, leading business groups have warned the Government.

In a letter to Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, organisations including the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) urged the Government to emulate countries such as France, Germany and Italy, which had all “successfully implemented” airport testing for Covid-19.

“If we don’t act fast with testing, we will make it more difficult for British businesses to continue as world class global players, just at the time where we need to forge stronger international relationships as the UK leaves the EU,” said the groups including the British chambers of commerce, Make UK, London First and Tourism Alliance.

“While health must come first, we cannot allow the UK to fall behind when there is a solution already in place in over 30 countries that enables the health risk to be managed whilst enabling travel.

“We must ensure that important trade routes are not irreparably damaged, and the vision of a Global Britain lost, with European economies capitalising on the Government’s quarantine policy which risks holding back the UK’s recovery.”

The letter was sent three weeks after Mr Shapps indicated that airport testing was being examined by the government, with options including two tests, one on arrival then another five or eight days later, after which arrivals could be released from 14-day quarantine early.

"We were pleased to hear you state that the government was 'actively working' on testing but we urge you and your Cabinet colleagues to put these words in to action,” said the groups.

They said testing should be combined with “expanding regional travel corridors to include regions where the infection rate of COVID-19 is low and trading routes are vital, particularly working with the USA administration on a reciprocal testing model.”

They added: "Some airports across the UK already have the private infrastructure in place - or in plan - to make this happen without impacting test availability for the wider population."

Heathrow, Britain's biggest airport, has pushed for the introduction of a testing regime for incoming passengers, with a consortium comprising Collinson and Swissport devising a system that the companies say has been ready for adoption for many weeks.