UK airline EasyJet said it would partner with COVID-19 testing companies to offer passengers discounted tests to try to encourage more travel, following similar moves by Wizz Air and London’s Gatwick Airport.
Travel rules in England will change from December 15 so that if a traveller receives a negative test result from a self-funded test, they can reduce their quarantine from 14 to 5 days.
Desperate to stimulate the travel market after months of restrictions, airlines and airports are teaming up with testing firms to make it easier and cheaper to get a test.
EasyJet, whose finances have come under severe pressure during the pandemic, said on Monday that passengers will receive a reduced rate of £75 per home test with Confirm Testing or with CityDoc, 100 pounds per home test or £150 per in clinic test.
EasyJet said that the two companies it was working with aimed to provide results within 48 hours.
There is also demand for tests prior to travel as some popular destinations like Spain and Italy require passengers to show a negative test on arrival.
The initiative follows the recent announcement of the UK Government’s Test to Release scheme whereby quarantine can be reduced if a negative test is confirmed five days after return to the UK.
The option will be available from later this week.
Johan Lundgren, easyJet chief executive, said: “I’m really pleased to be able to offer our customers convenient testing options at cheaper rates than are widely available on the market. This, coupled with the news that quarantine can be reduced with a negative test, is a key step towards travel getting back to normal.
“We continue to push for testing the efficacy of rapid testing technologies like antigen and LAMP testing which could be undertaken on departure at the airport and for further reducing quarantine, making it easier and less onerous for people to travel.
“It is clear that while testing will continue to be important to keeping people moving in the coming months, eventually the vaccine will play a role in reducing this and return travel to normal. Governments and industry need to work together to achieve this and we stand by ready to support where we can.”
