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Airports: Coronavirus

Question for Department for Transport

UIN HL10000, tabled on 4 November 2020

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce COVID-19 testing at airports; and if so, on what date they plan to introduce such testing.

Answered on

18 November 2020

The Government is actively working on the practicalities of using testing to release people from self-isolation earlier than 14 days. The Global Travel Taskforce (GTT) is working at pace to consider how testing, technology and innovation can drive a recovery for international travel and tourism, without adding to infection risk or infringing on our overall NHS test capacity.

In its work, the GTT will seek to consult representatives from:

  • the transport industry, to discuss shared challenges, the value of the sector to the economy, and the future of international travel;
  • international partners, to discuss different approaches to health measures at the border, and what standards and practices are needed to maintain safe international travel;
  • the tourism sector and local business leaders, to consider the economic impact on domestic tourism, and how international travel can support economic recovery;
  • the private testing sector, to consider capacity constraints, pricing, and how quickly testing capacity can be rolled out;
  • academia and policy institutes to provide insight and innovative solutions to the challenges the sector is facing.

The Taskforce will submit its recommendations to the Prime Minister in November.