25-second saliva test could help you head to the sun
Flights in the new normal
A 25-second saliva Covid test that could transform how families go on holiday is being trialled by British Airways.
Chief executive Sean Doyle said the £33 kit is a potential “game-changer” for the travel industry.
It is currently being used by cabin crew and, if effective, the Pelican test from Canary Global will be rolled out to passengers this summer.
It came as we were yesterday given a glimpse of changes flyers can expect at Heathrow’s Terminal 5.
In a bid to streamline the travel process, there will be 25 check-in desks dedicated to those flying with children.
The area will open in time for half term in two weeks.
New collection service Airportr can pick up luggage from your home and get it security-checked and tagged for around £150.
Grum Nijjer, BA’s head of ground services, said: “We want the whole experience to be as seamless as possible.”
A negative Covid test must be shown.
BA is offering a Eurofins PCR test for £40.41, a third of the usual £120.
In a three-month trial, passengers will also be able to book a check-in time online using the Qmatic system.
With travel opening up in just three days, T5 is pristine thanks to a set of robots helping 100 hygiene workers.
There are two of the £50,000 machines at T5 and two in T3, with two
more on the way. Programmed with the layout of the airport, the bots travel around and use powerful UVC light to blitz bacteria in the toilet blocks. Russell Wooding, Heathrow’s hygiene manager, said: “They literally burn the germs so we have to clear the area being cleaned before they can go in and it takes about half an hour to cleanse the block top to bottom.”
The robots are expected to be a hit with passengers seeking fun selfies.
But those hoping to pick up pre-holiday bargains will be disappointed as tax-free shopping has been axed by the Government.
Some high street names have already withdrawn from airport trading. John
Lewis is already gone and Dixons is planning to bring down the shutters on all its 35 Travel stores soon.
Apart from Boots and WH Smith customers, passengers will need big budgets to shop in T5 as it is dominated by designer brands such as Burberry, Chanel, Prada and Louis Vuitton.
Alcoholic drinks and tobacco products reman duty-free though.
BA’s director of flight operations, Captain Al Bridger, said the past year had been “a challenging time”.
But he added: “While we haven’t been flying much, we have still been flying aircraft as well as using simulators, and our planes have been rotated and maintained.
“The pilots are ready, the aircraft are ready but we’re missing our customers and can’t wait to welcome them back.”
The pilots are ready, the aircraft are ready... we miss our customers
AL BRIDGER DIRECTOR OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS, BA