UK Government travel test rules have been blamed for holding the country back as other nations surge ahead following the pandemic.
Former boss of British Airways’ parent company, Willie Walsh told MPs that the UK’s coronavirus testing and quarantine requirements had been “excessive for too long”.
Giving evidence to the Transport Select Committee, he said the rules “continue to discourage people, principally because of the cost of testing”.
Mr Walsh, director-general of airline trade body the International Air Transport Association, said: “There’s no justification for the continued use of these tests based on the data. The recovery is definitely being hampered by the bureaucracy associated with UK travel, where a lot of other countries have simplified their procedures.
“Where we see restrictions relaxed or removed, there’s an immediate response in terms of passenger demand, and that’s been witnessed right across the world.”
Mr Walsh was asked by committee chairman Huw Merriman if the UK’s regulations were solely responsible for the aviation sector lagging behind European competitors. He replied: “I think it’s a fair comment. It’s definitely suppressed demand. It’s caused great confusion for customers.”
Mr Walsh said the UK’s fightback from coronavirus has been slower than European counterparts such as Germany, France, Spain and Turkey.
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, told the committee that the UK is “clearly lagging behind”.
He said: “We had that lost summer with heavy restrictions when Europe was surging ahead and unlocking quicker than the UK.”
Karen Dee, boss of the Airport Operators Association, said the UK’s system is “still much more restrictive than it is in Europe”.
She went on: “We still have a testing requirement, a PLF (passenger locator form) requirement, that is more stringent and more onerous on passengers.
“That is certainly impacting on travel. I think we are optimistic for the rest of winter, but let’s not forget that winter is normally a loss-making system.
“So in contrast, over the summer when European airports were perhaps back up to 60-70 per cent, sometimes higher, most UK airports struggled to get above the low double digit percentages.”
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
