Gatwick Welcomes Overseas Pre-Departure Covid Tests—But Warns They Should Be Temporary

Management at Gatwick are asking the government to make its requirement for overseas arrivals having negative coronavirus tests only temporary.

Leaders are warning that, despite the public health importance of the tests, there is still the risk of a "severe impact" on the airport, with a likely dramatic fall of air traffic levels in the coming days.

But they insisted that Gatwick would stay open for essential travel, and also for cargo flights.

Stewart Wingate, the airport's CEO, said:

"We have long been an advocate of pre-departure testing and today's Government announcement brings us in line with many other countries and closer to having a consistent, internationally coordinated pre-departure testing regime.  

"When current lockdown restrictions are eased, and infection rates decrease, pre-departure testing could ultimately encourage frequent international travel to restart by eliminating the need for arriving passengers to quarantine.  

"It remains important however that any tests are affordable for passengers and that these arrangements are temporary and are withdrawn at the earliest opportunity when public health conditions permit."

Mr. Wingate continued his call for support for the aviation industry as traffic dwindled, putting into jeopardy a very large proportion of jobs in Crawley and other parts of Sussex:

"We continue to ask Government to announce a comprehensive support package for aviation to help us protect jobs.  

"It is vital that critical national infrastructure such as airports are able to thrive and provide the international connectivity required to ensure Britain remains open for trade and business as we enter the post Brexit era."