Airport bosses have cautiously welcomed today's news that vaccinated travellers returning to England from Amber List countries and testing negative for coronavirus can skip quarantine.
But they've added that expensive pre-departure and post-arrival covid checks should be made much cheaper or free.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced this morning that it's still necessary for people coming back to be tested three days before returning, and take a pre-departure test, and a PCR test on or before day two.
For Gatwick's CEO, it's a step in the right direction, but not enough.
Stewart Wingate said:
“With summer holidays just around the corner, we are approaching a crucial time for our industry and we urge Government to remove other barriers inhibiting international travel, including the need for costly PCR tests for those who have been double vaccinated.
"At the very least, if tests are required, they should be the more readily available lateral flow tests or PCR tests carried out free of charge at an NHS facility, as has been done in France."
He also pleaded for queues, along with costs and procedures, to be simplified and reduced:
"We would also urge Government to urgently follow the lead of EU counties to ensure that internationally agreed, coordinated protocols are in place so that processes when crossing borders to other countries are as smooth as possible, with no unnecessary queues, checks or costs.
“We will continue working closely with our airlines to ensure that the best possible public health measures are in place – following the latest Government guidance - so that our customers can be confident that the airport environment is as safe as it possibly can be.”
At the moment, travellers arriving without a valid negative covid test face a £500 fine.
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