Coronavirus: Hancock urged to back Swissport testing plan
Collinson and Swissport are urging the health secretary to back their testing scheme in a letter seen by Sky News.
Wednesday 1 July 2020 21:30, UK
The health secretary, Matt Hancock, is under mounting pressure to back an airport-based COVID-19 testing programme amid continued uncertainty over government plans to establish international "air bridges".
Sky News has seen a letter to Mr Hancock from Swissport, the ground handling company, and Collinson, a medical assistance provider, which urges him to back a test-on-arrival approach that would remove the need for coronavirus-free passengers to be quarantined.
The two companies have agreed a pilot programme with one of Britain's biggest airports, which they say could be operational within a fortnight.
"Test-on-arrival could sit alongside quarantine, offering a voluntary alternative for those travelling from medium or higher risk countries, who do not wish to be subject to 14-day restrictions," said the letter, sent on Wednesday by Swissport's chief commercial officer for western Europe, Richard Cawthra, and Simon Worrall, Collinson's global medical director.
"Incoming passengers would undergo a PCR Test on arrival at UK airports, and then continue to their quarantine location, following existing government guidelines.
"When they receive confirmation that they are negative for COVID-19, then they would be free to go about their lives."
Their plea for the Department of Health's support comes as confusion reigns over the timing and scale of a government announcement about air bridges, allowing passengers to travel without being quarantined under a traffic lights system.
An official announcement has been expected for several days, although it is still reported to be likely before the end of the week.
The 14-day quarantine policy has been attacked by airlines and other companies which have been brought to their knees by COVID-19's impact on the travel and tourism industry.
British Airways' parent company is among those which have launched legal action against the government to seek to overturn the policy.
In their letter to Mr Hancock, Swissport and Collinson said: "We believe test-on arrival would be a complement to any countries where quarantine is due to be lifted under air bridge agreements.
"We recognise that the focus of DfT policy is to establish these safe travel routes, without testing or quarantine requirements, and support this.
"But we also recognise the reality of demand for travel to and from countries with a higher risk status, including the US, China, Turkey and Portugal."
Last week, Swissport said it was cutting more than 4000 jobs because of the slow anticipated recovery from the pandemic.