HEATHROW IMPOSES PASSENGER CHARGES

London’s Heathrow airport will charge departing passengers an extra £8.90 ($12.40) in an effort to claw back costs as the coronavirus crisis depresses air travel. Heathrow last week posted a £2 billion loss for 2020 after passenger numbers tumbled 73 per cent, a decline it says has left it unable to cover the costs of providing some services. The new per-passenger levy, or Airport Cost Recovery Charge, is due to be imposed for the rest of this year.

All UK children to get free COVID-19 test kits: Britain’s government says families with children in school will be provided with free coronavirus home test kits as part of plans for schools to reopen beginning on March 8. Free, twice-weekly tests will be provided to children’s households regardless of whether anyone has symptoms, officials said. The tests will also be offered to adults working with schools, including bus drivers.