LONDON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - 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 Dec. 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 pounds per home test with Confirm Testing
or with CityDoc, 100 pounds per home test or 150 pounds per in
clinic test.
The 75 pound rate is cheaper than the 85 pound rate
available to Wizz Air passengers. Both are more expensive than
Gatwick Airport's offer of 60 pounds per test for passengers who
use its drive-through testing facility.
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.
(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
easyJet (EZJ)