Heathrow boss: UK playing “quarantine roulette” without passenger testing

The boss of Heathrow Airport has hit out at the UK government for not having adequate COVID-19 passenger testing procedures in place.

In a statement accompanying the airport’s Q2 results this morning, Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: “Today’s results should serve as a clarion call for the government.

“The UK needs a passenger testing regime and fast. Without it, Britain is just playing a game of quarantine roulette.”

The comments have come as the airport announced an 85 per cent revenue drop in Q2 to £119m.

Passenger numbers for the airport were down over 96 per cent as a result of the travel restrictions imposed in a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

In addition, Heathrow saw its cargo volumes reduce by 30 per cent over the quarter, a result of the reduced passenger flights.

Mr Holland-Kaye continued: “As many of our customers have experienced, it’s difficult to plan a holiday that way, let alone run a business. Testing offers a way to safely open up travel and trade to some of the UK’s biggest markets which currently remain closed.

“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.”