Heathrow Asks U.K. to Explain Opposition to Passenger Screening

(Bloomberg) -- London’s Heathrow airport has asked the British government to consider allowing it to screen people for the coronavirus to help allay passenger fears once flights resume.

Heathrow Chief Executive Officer John Holland-Kaye wrote to Health Secretary Matt Hancock saying a more stringent regime may be required at airports. Such measures could include temperature tests that the U.K. has ruled out as ineffective, as well as antibody tests and a requirement for passengers to carry so-called health passports attesting to their fitness.

A Heathrow spokesman confirmed the remarks and said that as Europe’s busiest hub the airport needs to adopt the highest international standards, even if those take it beyond those required by Britain. At the same time the airport is urging the government to take the lead in developing such standards.

In a sign of mounting tensions over levels of protection required once flights resume, Heathrow is also questioning Britain’s insistence that temperature checks are ineffective in combating the virus once it has spread. Even with most jets grounded thousands of people still pass through Heathrow untested each day, while some other major airports are applying mandatory screening.

“We therefore request that the evidence base for the current advice be published as soon as possible, so that it can be properly considered against international advice,” the spokesman said.

Public Health England officials are stationed at Heathrow but only screen passengers who report feeling ill on arrival or before departure.

The Daily Mail reported on Holland-Kaye’s letter earlier.

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