As airlines such as British Airways and United Airlines launch fully Covid-tested flights to get air traffic moving again, the British Government has abandoned the airlines and should be at the heart of this operation.
We are trading nation, on the verge of leaving the world’s largest trade block. It’s incredible that the British Government is leaving it to our airlines and airports to develop their own testing. Our economic links to the rest of the world are vital in all sorts of waysL 50% of our non-EU exports are in the belly of passenger planes, but with passenger travel at a standstill, this just isn’t happening.
It’s welcome news to see airlines such as British Airways taking the lead on testing, but they shouldn’t have to. The Government needs to proactively establish a common testing platform across major international routes. London to New York, London to Dubai, and London to Singapore are some of Europe’s most important and popular links. By prioritising just a few international agreements, we will see a major boost to economic activity far beyond the tourism industry.
Leaving it to airlines alone to develop their own testing is a dereliction of duty.
Cities Restart is a start-up venture dedicated to helping UK cities restart during and after COVID-19. https://www.citiesrestart.com/
