United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
‘Prohibitive’ PCR test costs will hinder airlines’ recovery, IATA says
Costly PCR tests will impact the air travel recovery as national borders slowly reopen, the International Air Transport Association said.
Current costs of PCT tests could raise the cost of an average airfare by 45 to 90% it says.
"The real risk here is that these prohibitive costs will prevent families from exercising their freedom to travel, to visit friends, to take a holiday," Willie Walsh, IATA director-general said during a virtual press briefing.
"As a society, we just cannot allow a situation to develop where only the rich can afford to travel again."
IATA research shows wide variations in prices between different countries and even within the same country.
Based on the average pre-pandemic cost of a one-way airline ticket at $200, a $90 PCR test raises the cost by 45%.
With the exception of France which funds the cost of testing, average test costs were from $90 to $208.
"People are being gouged by these high prices. Governments continue to mandate these tests but are taking their big slice of the pie through VAT charges," Walsh said.
There are significant mark-ups as IATA estimates the actual cost of PCR testing to be $15.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Foreign Office issues travel advisory for winter sun destinations