Experts’ howls of anguish...

SHAI WEISS

BOSS OF VIRGIN ATLANTIC

‘We need urgent action from the UK Government, with the support of industry and our world-leading technology, to introduce testing that brings an end to the imposition of quarantine as soon as possible.’

DEREK PROVAN

RUNS SOUTHAMPTON, GLASGOW AND ABERDEEN AIRPORTS

‘Ministers are overseeing the demise of UK aviation. There are now more job losses than at the height of the coal industry collapse in the 80s. That is not an accolade any government would want.’

TIM ALDERSLADE

CHIEF OF AIRLINES UK

‘UK aviation is in the danger zone. Tens of thousands of jobs have already been lost. There can be no future for UK connectivity without the adoption of a testing regime.’

KAREN DEE

HEAD OF THE AIRPORT OPERATORS ASSOCIATION

‘The Government needs to work with industry urgently. UK aviation has been hit by the worst crisis in its history and testing will be one way in which the Government can help the industry to bring back air travel and set us on a path to recovery.’

JOHAN LUNDGREN

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF EASYJET

‘To build customer confidence to travel a much-improved, more predictable and targeted quarantine and testing system is urgently needed. The Government should also put in place testing on arrival for passengers travelling from quarantine areas in order to shorten or remove the need for quarantine altogether.’

STEWART WINGATE

BOSS OF GATWICK AIRPORT

‘Testing will rebuild the economy, get people moving again and release the need for quarantine to many international destinations.’

GRAHAM BRADY

TORY 1922 COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

‘Other countries such as Germany have had testing regimes at airports for many weeks which have allowed them to reopen to the world, benefiting both leisure travellers and businesses. If the UK doesn’t move quickly to catch up with a testing regime that will open us up to world markets, then the damage already done to the British economy will be even worse.’

STEVE BAKER

TORY FORMER MINISTER

‘If the Government can provide fast accurate tests, then it must deploy them widely.’