The cost of a covid PCR test could be reduced to £60 for international travellers as the outbound UK travel sector gears itself for business.
According to an article in Travel Weekly, Randox, the largest supplier of PCR tests in the UK will reduce the cost so long as people have a discount code, which can be obtained from airlines when booking travel.
Randox managing director Dr Peter FitzGerald said, “Randox will reduce the all-inclusive cost of PCR testing for those in the UK undertaking international travel to £60 per test.
“We can see the pressures faced by the both the travel industry and the general public and are committed to effective and economical testing to support holidaymakers and those undertaking international travel.”
The company has responded to calls by the UK transport secretary for the cost of the covid PCR test to be lowered. The average cost of a test in the UK is £128, according to analysis by Abta and the Airport Operators Association. This compares with £62 in eight destinations in Europe surveyed.
Travel Weekly has calculated that the current cost of testing would be £306 per person for a trip to the EU, if you include both UK pre- and post-departure tests, as well as a pre-departure test in their destination country at the end of their holiday.
The £60 charge is based on a PCR testing kit ordered online for home sample collection with the sample returned to the laboratory for testing.
UK restrictions on overseas travel could be lifted from 17 May, subject to PCR testing requirements based on the grading of destination countries with the green, amber and red traffic light system. There is also talk of vaccine passport being introduced for international travel from the UK, as well as potentially for events within the country.
