Terminal 3 at London Heathrow becomes that of flights to high-risk countries. The measure has come into force for passengers arriving from 43 countries considered dangerous by the British authorities. For the moment, only three countries on this red list - the United Kingdom, France and Italy - have been included. Bangladesh, India and Pakistan - have direct flights to the British capital.
It is not the need to ease passenger queues that is motivating the authorities. The airport says that the The top priority is to protect the public and help reduce the risk of new covid variants.. Concern is growing...
Terminal 3 at London Heathrow becomes that of flights to high-risk countries. The measure has come into force for passengers arriving from 43 countries considered dangerous by the British authorities. For the moment, only three countries on this red list - the United Kingdom, France and Italy - have been included. Bangladesh, India and Pakistan - have direct flights to the British capital.
It is not the need to ease passenger queues that is motivating the authorities. The airport says that the The top priority is to protect the public and help reduce the risk of new covid variants.. Concern has been growing ever since reports surfaced of passengers from high-risk countries mixed with other travellers in immigration lobbies.
Normally, only British and Irish nationals or British residents are allowed to travel from countries on the list. But anyone who has visited a Red List country in the last 10 daysWhether on a direct flight or a transfer, must spend 10 nights in a quarantine hotel.
Kafkaesque health regulations
According to a Heathrow Airport spokeswoman to the BBC, " red-listed countries are likely to be a feature of travel to the UK for the foreseeable future. We let's adapt Heathrow to this long-term reality initially by opening a dedicated arrivals terminal. "
The current system includes mandatory negative Covid tests for all new arrivals internationalThese include the compulsory wearing of masks, social distancing and tighter cleaning and ventilation regimes in immigration halls. All of which contributes to the long queues on arrival at airport terminals.
A a situation deplored by Heathrow Airport's Managing Director, John Holland-Kaye: "The government must massively extend the green list to low-risk markets. It must also remove the need for fully vaccinated passengers to undergo two expensive PCR tests. Claims by Border Force that "long immigration queues are inevitable" are complacent. They can be avoided if ministers ensure that all counters are manned at peak times. "The government has promised to deploy additional officers and automatic e-gates during the summer.
