Heathrow Airport is set to install temperature checks for passengers within weeks, its boss told a committee of MPs today.
John Holland-Kaye called on the government to introduce a standard for airports to allow them to re-open as lockdown restrictions are eased.
He told the Transport Select Committee that the industry could not afford to wait 12-18 months for a vaccine for coronavirus (Covid-19) and that thousands of jobs might be lost if the only advice to passengers and airlines remains to socially distance.
As well as temperature checks, facial recognition technology and contact free-security scanners will also be assessed, Heathrow’s chief executive said.
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Ryanair on their own have announced 18,000 job cuts in the past week, with fears growing for the health of Gatwick Airport after BA and Virgin also said they would stop using it for flights.
Companies supplying equipment that can identify passengers potentially carrying the disease have already reported a surge in interest in monitoring devices.
Peter Fowler, chief executive, of AIM-listed Westminster Group PLC (LON:WSG) recently reported record enquiry levels from airport owners, particularly for fever screening and associated equipment.
Fowler added that he believes fever screening will become standard requirement for airports and at many commercial and governmental organisations.