Airports trade body slams ‘expensive’ and ‘burdensome’ new travel testing rules

The Airport Operators Association (AOA) has today slammed the government’s new testing rules for international travel.

The AOA is a trade association that represents more than 50 UK airports in the UK.

AOA’s Chief Executive Karen Dee welcomed the Health Secretary’s statement in the House of Commons this afternoon, which he said all remaining countries will be removed from the red list.

Agreeing that “these measures have little purpose when omicron is rapidly becoming the dominant variant in the UK.”

However she went onto argue that: “It is difficult to understand why the UK and devolved governments did not recognise that the same logic applies to the blanket, expensive and burdensome testing regime.

“The UK is only country currently that requires both a pre-departure test and a post-arrival test for all arrivals, regardless of vaccination status. UK tests remain significantly more expensive compared to the rest of Europe. They therefore place a heavy burden on families just as many were hoping to finally reunite with loved ones who live abroad over the Christmas period.”

UK PCR tests among the costliest in Europe, in part to the 20 per cent VAT charge that pushes up their price.

The cost of the tests varies wildly between providers, with the average costing around £75.

“The four UK governments should urgently reinstate the pre-omicron travel regime, or risk ruining Christmas plans for so many across the country,” Ms Dee suggested.