Airlines welcome 'Test to Release' - 24 NOV 20

Testing for international passenger arrivals is a turning point for airlines

24 November 2020 - The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK) has welcomed the Transport Secretary’s announcement of ‘Test to Release’ for arriving international passengers, stating that 15 December can finally mark a turning point for the airline industry and the travelling public.  

Dale Keller, chief executive of BAR UK said ”Airlines have been clear to the Government that passenger testing is the single most effective way to get Britain flying again and reconnected to the global economy. With this announcement, passengers can now book in the confidence that they will travel in safe, clean and secure environments created by the world’s airlines and airports, and no longer need to endure a 14-day quarantine on their return. We are particularly pleased the Government acted upon our proposals that passengers should have the option to order a home testing kit rather than travel potentially long distances to take a test. We believe that testing creates the opportunity for the devolved nations and Westminster to implement a unified international arrival experience across the whole of the UK, and by working closely with industry can continue on the critical path towards safely removing quarantine entirely for all passengers.”

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