Heathrow Airport Offers Rapid Tests for Some Flights
London's Heathrow Airport has launched a rapid coronavirus test service for passengers.
The pre-departure tests, which aim to provide results in an hour, will be offered to those flying to Hong Kong and Italy. The saliva swab costs 80 pounds ($104) and can return results quickly because they don't need to be sent to a laboratory.
Hong Kong and Italy are among destinations requiring travelers from Britain and other "high risk" countries to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result 72 hours before their departure.
Aviation services company Collinson and logistics firm Swissport says the pre-departure tests are the "crucial next step toward keeping the travel industry moving while limiting the spread of the virus."
Heathrow airport's chief executive John Holland-Kaye says ultimately, the travel industry needs an international standard for pre-departure testing.