Brits in travel chaos as Portugal exodus leaves test centres overwhelmed
Thousands of Brits face travel chaos this summer, as changes to the government’s ‘green list’ leave test centres overwhelmed and at the brink of collapse.
British holidaymakers in Portugal have until 4am on Tuesday morning to return to the UK, or they must quarantine for 10 days.
Anyone returning home must have proof of a negative Covid test taken no more than three days before their departure, but testing centres in Portugal have been overwhelmed by a jump in sudden demand, the Times first reported.
In addition, passengers were warned of up to four-hour waits at testing sites in Portuguese airport Faro.
At the same time, today a British healthcare company that provides rapid PCR testing at Liverpool John Lennon Airport has warned that the laboratory testing system is pushed to capacity and at the brink of collapse.
Covid testing laboratories face an unprecedented demand in PCR testing, and as a result holidaymakers could miss flights as test results are delayed or lost.
According to Ross Tomkins, managing director of Salutaris People, the chaos at the labs has been caused by being overwhelmed with a rise in self-administered postal PCR test kits that airline passengers and holidaymakers need prior to departure.
Laboratories have been unable to cope with the deluge of test kits following the government’s gradual lifting of air travel restrictions, he added.
“Last week we processed 150 tests booked by airline passengers and holidaymakers, all of whom had their PCR tests lost, delayed or returned ‘unclear’,” he said.
“It is clear to see that the laboratories are overwhelmed with the sheer volume of testing kits being sent in by airline passengers eager to get away on holiday. As a result of this, the labs are losing test kits or mixing up test results, while others are being delayed and a large percentage are coming back with ‘unclears.’
“When an ‘unclear’ happens, it is either down to the test being self-administered or due to leakage in transit.
“Not only is this frustrating for airline passengers, but it’s also costly having to take secondary testing. It is also creating chaos and anxiety for airline passengers when all they want to do is jump on a plane and take a holiday.”
Thirty-nine flights are scheduled to depart from Faro Airport in the Algarve for the UK today, nearly double the usual total.
The final departure of the day is a Wizz Air flight due to land at Doncaster Sheffield Airport at 2.05am on Tuesday.
Travellers must arrive in the UK before 4am on Tuesday or they will be required to self-isolate at home for 10 days.
A couple arriving in the UK from Portugal said they paid £800 for a flight to avoid quarantining at home, leaving them under “extreme stress”.
Brits have been paying hundreds more in airfares to ensure they beat the quarantine rules.
Alan and Lisa Pechey, from Cambridge, who were on holiday in Lisbon, had been due to return to London Stansted Airport on Tuesday, but paid £400 each to book a flight to Gatwick.
Speaking at the airport on Monday, Mrs Pechey, 66, told the PA news agency: “It was really expensive and I think the Government was totally unfair to throw that at us on Thursday because it really spoiled our holiday, totally.
“We had flown out on Monday for a relaxing break, but from Thursday onwards we were under extreme stress.
“My main problem was the stress, because we didn’t want to quarantine.”
One woman said she paid £300 extra for a flight from Portugal to avoid quarantining at home for 10 days.
Speaking at Gatwick Airport on Monday, Ana Pacheco, 28, from Islington, north London, who was on holiday near Porto, said: “I was a little annoyed and upset but there’s nothing I can do because I really needed to go to Portugal.
“I lost money on this trip, about £300 extra, because I was due to come back tomorrow evening, so it is quite annoying.
“I think there should have been extra time added on for us to get home, at least a week would have been better.”
Gary Turner said long lines at the airport meant his journey home took 12 hours.
He told Sky News: “A 12 hour journey! We arrived at Faro at 2pm [Sunday] for a 4.55pm flight to Gatwick and finally got to bag drop at 5pm. We then boarded but of course so many passengers where in the terminal still so we were sat on the plane until 7.45pm.
“Finally got home at midnight! Never again!”
Jack Malan, 67, from Sevenoaks, Kent, who was returning from Portugal with his wife, said: “Our flight back was 95% full, which wasn’t the case when we flew out there.
“At the airport there was quite the queue with various checks and I must say it’s abysmal that the Government imposed this regulation so abruptly without warning, it’s very unfair.”