Bristol Airport has welcomed government plans to introduce Covid-19 testing for people arriving from overseas, which could cut their quarantine period from two weeks to six days.
Passengers using the scheme – which starts on December 15 – will have to book and pay for a test from a private firm to be taken five days after they enter the country. 
They will still have to self-isolate but, if their test is negative, would be released from quarantine immediately.
Airports, including Bristol, have for months been urging the government to allow passenger testing on arrival and departure as an alternative to quarantine, which they say is devastating the international travel industry.
Bristol Airport CEO Dave Lees, pictured, described the move announced by Transport Secretary Grant Schapps as a “hugely positive first step” towards eliminating the need for quarantine for arriving customers at UK airports.
“As an industry we have called on government to urgently accelerate a scientifically-sound testing regime for customers arriving into the UK which would safeguard public health, reduce the quarantine period, remove uncertainty and allow businesses and passengers to make informed travel choices,” he said.
“Passengers will now have the confidence to book international travel in the knowledge that, from December 25, they can return home and isolate for a shorter period if they have received a negative test. 
“These measures will be essential for enabling and stimulating international travel for as long as we are living with this virus.
“Bristol Airport’s number one priority remains the health and safety of our passengers and our work colleagues. We will therefore continue to work tirelessly with our industry partners and government to implement solutions which will enable the industry to fully restart and recover.”
The tests are likely to cost between £65 and £120 each, although some travel companies are saying they will offer discounts for families.
Mr Shapps said the scheme would “bolster international travel while keeping the public safe”.
He added: “Our new testing strategy will allow us to travel more freely, see loved ones and drive international business. By giving people the choice to test on day five, we are also supporting the travel industry as it continues to rebuild out of the pandemic.”
The travel industry and airlines welcomed the policy but described it as “long overdue” and said most travel would only return when a pre-departure testing regime was in place.
That was echoed by Michael O’Leary, the CEO of Irish budget airline Ryanair – one of Bristol Airport’s largest operators – who said Mr Shapps had failed to listen to industry over the plans, arguing it would be simpler for passengers to be tested a couple of days prior to departure instead. 
“If people are willing to get their tests within the 72 hours prior to their departure or prior to arriving in the UK, it’s a much simpler, much easier way of ensuring that those people who fly in, particularly on short haul flights, are Covid-free,” he said.
The government has also announced new financial support for English airports and the ground handlers serving them. The scheme will open in the New Year with a cap of £8m per business.
Mr Lees added: “The aviation sector has been devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic and Bristol Airport, along with airports across the UK, has never had the opportunity to recover.
“We have continued to highlight the urgent need for immediate additional economic support for the winter and steps to support recovery. We await further details on the support available to Bristol Airport but the announcement appears to be a welcome relief during what has been the most challenging period in our history.
“Hundreds of jobs and our economic recovery are on the line. Today’s announcement is vital for the UK economy and must be the first step towards safeguarding the prosperity of the South West, both now and in a post-Covid and post-Brexit world.”
Bristol Airport was given a boost earlier this month when Jet2, the UK’s third largest airline, announced it will make the airport its 10th base and launch flights to 33 destinations from next April.
Jet2, which does not currently operate from Bristol, will also create more than 200 jobs at the airport in roles ranging from flight and cabin crew to engineers and ground operations staff.
Bristol, the UK’s ninth busiest and England’s third largest regional airport, handled around 9m passengers. However, following its near closure earlier this year and massive reduction in services since due to travel restrictions, airport bosses have said they do not expect passenger numbers to return to around that level for at least three years.
Nearly 250 job losses were announced at the airport in June, including 76 directly employed staff and 176 by aircraft handling firm Swissport.
