Heathrow tells UK: do passenger testing or lose ‘quarantine roulette’ | World News - Hindustan Times
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Heathrow tells UK: do passenger testing or lose ‘quarantine roulette’

London | ByReuters | Posted by: Shankhyaneel Sarkar
Jul 29, 2020 01:00 PM IST

The worst public health crisis since the 1918 influenza outbreak has wrought economic turmoil across the world and just as the travel industry restarted there are now fears of a second wave of shutdowns after Britain imposed a quarantine on Spain.

Heathrow Airport, Europe’s busiest airport, called on Britain to urgently introduce a passenger testing regime, warning that without one it would lose a game of global “quarantine roulette” coronavirus stalled aviation.

Reporters speak to a traveller arriving from Madrid at the Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in London, Britain.(REUTERS)
Reporters speak to a traveller arriving from Madrid at the Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in London, Britain.(REUTERS)

The worst public health crisis since the 1918 influenza outbreak has wrought economic turmoil across the world and just as the travel industry restarted there are now fears of a second wave of shutdowns after Britain imposed a quarantine on Spain.

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“The UK needs a passenger testing regime and fast,” Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said. “Without it, Britain is just playing a game of quarantine roulette.”

“Our European competitors are racing ahead with passenger testing, if the UK doesn’t act soon global Britain will be nothing more than a campaign slogan,” Holland-Kaye said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has faced criticism for being too slow to craft a nationwide testing programme, and the government has bet heavily on a home testing approach that has been dogged by delays.

Asked about such sharp criticism from the head of the country’s biggest airport, said there was no silver bullet.

“There’s not a silver bullet of just testing immediately at the border,” Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told the BBC. “It can incubate over a period of time so there’s not a silver bullet of just testing immediately at the border.”

Heathrow, along with airlines and the entire tourism industry, is hurting.

Passenger numbers fell 96% in the second quarter while cargo volumes fell over 30%. Revenue fell 85%. Heathrow, though, said its finances remained robust.

It said it had enough cash to last until at least June 2021 with no revenue.

“We have agreed a waiver on financial covenants until the end of 2021 and maintained our Investment Grade credit rating status,” it said.

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