New Covid travel rules face furious backlash from air industry

Travel bosses today warned the return of PCR tests for passengers arriving in Britain is 'the Christmas present nobody wanted' - and that tougher Covid-19 restrictions on international travel have been 'completely ineffective in the past'. 

The travel curbs come just weeks after costly PCR swabs for returning travellers were ditched on October 24 and replaced with much cheaper rapid lateral flow tests.

But there is now a growing backlash after Boris Johnson said all travellers, regardless of vaccination status, will have to take PCR tests by day two of their UK arrival.

Travellers must self-isolate at home until they get their result, although critics have pointed out that they can travel to their quarantine location by public transport.

The rule was announced on Saturday and comes into force at 4am tomorrow in a bid by ministers to better track any spread of the feared new Omicron variant.   

The average cost of a single PCR swab among more than 450 providers listed on the Government website today was £83 - up by 5 per cent or £4 from £79 yesterday.  

For a family of five this would add £415 to the cost of a trip abroad. By comparison, rapid lateral flow tests are typically about £20 to £25 - adding about £100 to £125.

One furious tourism boss branded it a 'travel tax', which contradicted the Prime Minister's claim that 'this Christmas will be better than last'.

Travellers accused Covid test companies of 'shameless profiteering' with some claiming the PCR price has risen by £10, £30 and £44 in three different examples. 

And Willie Walsh, the former boss of British Airways' parent company IAG, today described the reintroduction of tighter quarantine and testing regulations as a 'knee-jerk decision' which imposes 'huge hardship' on travellers. 

Mr Walsh, who is currently director-general of airline trade body the International Air Transport Association, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I'm very disappointed to see this knee-jerk reaction by governments to the latest development. 

'It's clear that these measures have been completely ineffective in the past but impose huge hardship on people who are trying to connect with families and friends, and clearly massive financial damage to the tourism and airline industry.'

Mr Walsh said the failure of similar requirements to prevent a second coronavirus wave in the UK after being implemented in May last year demonstrates they 'do not have any long-term benefits' and are 'not the answer'.

He continued: 'I think sensible testing regimes which have been proven to be effective could be introduced which would enable people to continue travelling in a safe environment.

'It's disappointing that the Government does not reflect on the significant data that they have available.'

Ministers have been also told by travel bosses and MPs that the cost of PCR tests should be slashed to stop families being priced out of going abroad this Christmas.

The Government has been urged to either cap prices of the 'gold standard' swabs, axe VAT on them or allow holidaymakers to use free NHS ones.

The new travel curbs which will increase testing bills by hundreds of pounds. 

Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy the PC Agency, said: 'One of the best things the government could do is remove VAT on PCR tests to make it less costly for people to travel.'

Of the new restrictions, he added: 'It's the Christmas present nobody wanted in the sector and it wipes out inbound tourism due to the quarantine while awaiting test results.'

Guidance issued by the Government last night said that, if travellers' test results are delayed, they must stay in self-isolation until they receive them or until two weeks after arrival - whichever is soonest. 

Anyone with a positive result must self-isolate at home for ten days. The new rules relate to people who are fully vaccinated.

Non-fully vaccinated travellers must take a pre-return test and two

read more from dailymail.....