Research commissioned by Airlines UK and Heathrow airport shows British business is losing £32 million a day because there is no ‘air bridge’ between the UK and the US meaning multi-million-pound trade deals are at risk unless the government gives its backing to an airport testing trial.
It has been proposed that a pilot scheme, between London and New York City, in which travellers would quarantine, then be tested before flying, and get tested again at the other end should be trialed.
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Heathrow Chief Executive John Holland Kaye said: “If you believe in Brexit and a truly global Britain that leads the world in trade, restarting safe travel and trade with the US must also be your battle. As long as the skies between the US and the UK remain closed, Brexit will not mean Brexit.”
Continuing the discussion on Radio 4’s Today programme Mr Holland Kaye said: “It’s hugely important for tourism and business. Unless we can start to normalise trade with the US, then jobs will be lost.
“We can control who is flying from where, with testing before people get on planes, quarantining at home before flying, then taking another test on arrival.”
