Green list ‘will be limited’ at first Ian Taylor


The initial green list of countries without quarantine restrictions on travellers returning to the UK is likely to be limited and could exclude most European destinations. That is according to Heathrow


chief executive John Holland-Kaye who told Travel Weekly: “Europe is complicated. I would expect to see individual countries coming on to the green list rather than the whole of the EU.” He suggested the US “should be


top of the list”, insisting: “The US would be a fantastic country to open up quickly. It has high vaccination levels and will soon overtake us. I


would hope we could see that in May, possibly June.” The government has promised to


identify countries on the green list under the new traffic light system “in early May” for a possible restart from May 17. Holland-Kaye said: “We know


conversations are happening bilaterally with the US. The countries I hope to see as a minimum would be the US, the Caribbean, Israel, maybe Portugal, the UAE, Singapore, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. “They all have low levels of Covid


and good levels of vaccination.” He said “more work needs to


be done” to bring EU destinations on to the green list, pointing out: “Each country in Europe has its own


Pressure mounts for cost of PCR tests to be cut


Ian Taylor


The cost of Covid-19 tests could be reduced by the time outbound travel restarts, but higher-priced PCR tests are likely to remain in place at the outset. Industry criticism of the


government’s Global Travel Taskforce report focused on the high price of PCR tests required even of arrivals from countries listed ‘green’ under the proposed traffic light system. PCR tests could cost a family


of four returning from a green list country about £600. Heathrow chief


4 15 APRIL 2021


executive John Holland-Kaye told Travel Weekly: “It will make travel too expensive, but it’s something the government can easily change by doing what we do with schools and giving people a cheaper test before asking them to take a PCR test only if they have Covid.” He said: “It’s overkill. The


prime minister said he would make testing cheap and easy. What’s been announced is not cheap and easy.” PCR prices vary from £60


to above £200 but average £128 according to Abta, double the price in parts of Europe where the EU has


agreed the tests can be zero-rated for VAT. In the UK, VAT adds 20%. Some EU governments cap the cost. An industry source said: “VAT


is in the government’s gift and [removing it] would help. “We also haven’t given up on


[cheaper] lateral flow tests. It might be only some go on the approved list. But between now and May 17 there will be a lot of work on this.” A second source agreed: “We


want to move to rapid tests. But in the meantime, they can cut the cost of PCR tests. They could take providers off the approved list. We


I would expect to see individual countries coming on to the green list rather than the whole of the EU


vaccination policy and sets its own rules about travel.” However, industry sources


downplayed the likelihood of an early US opening. A source involved with the taskforce noted it would require bilateral agreement and said: “The taskforce does not mention bilaterals. The green list is unilateral.” A second source said: “The US will be a priority, but the US needs to let


us in first. There are some discussions, but they need ramping up.” The source suggested: “Florida is


the state there is most concern about, which could be tricky. “The government could take a


regional approach [to the US] but it has been reluctant to do anything on a regional basis.” The source added: “We’ll see a push for a wish list [and] a push to go to Spain, but it’s difficult regarding the EU.” Jet2holidays chief executive


Steve Heapy told Travel Weekly he feared “glory routes” would be prioritised over summer-sun destinations he believes “ordinary


people” want to visit. i Business, back page


A Covid-19 home-testing kit


don’t think the government will go for capping the cost, they will pressurise providers.” Iata called for tests to be VAT


exempt and for the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate pricing. The pressure led transport


secretary Grant Shapps to acknowledge PCR tests cost too much and pledge: “The cost should be cheaper. I’ll be driving that down. “I won’t spare companies


that seem to be profiteering, including removing them from the recommended list [of test providers].”


travelweekly.co.uk


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