The calls for cheaper testing were led by Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, the trade body for UK registered airlines, and echoed by the bosses of Jet2.com and easyJet, among others.
Referring to the framework for the resumption of international travel published by the government during the early hours of Friday morning (9 April), Alderslade said: "This does not represent a reopening of travel as promised by ministers."
The framework is based around a traffic light system, with destination countries graded green, amber and red according to a number of factors including the progress of their Covid-19 vaccination programmes and their current rate of Covid infection.
However, even those returning to the UK from green destinations will have to take a pre-departure test and a PCR test on day two of their return, which will likely add hundreds of pounds to the cost of taking a holiday for typical families.
"The insistence on expensive and unnecessary PCR testing rather than rapid testing – even for low-risk countries – will pose an unsustainable burden on passengers, making travel unviable and unaffordable for many people," said Alderslade.
Alderslade continued: "It is also a further setback for an industry on its knees and the UK’s wider economic recovery, with many businesses and exporters reliant upon our domestic and international connectivity and a thriving aviation sector.
"All the evidence suggests you can reopen travel safely and in a risk-based manner with more proportionate measures, and we urge government to work with industry on a faster, cheaper and less complex solution."
Jet2.com chief executive Steve Heapy said that while he welcomed the government’s announcement, which he said demonstrated "a clear ambition to restart international travel", further detail and clarity – particularly on testing – was vital.
"We want our customers to enjoy a happy and healthy holiday, but without the additional cost of expensive pre-departure and post-arrival testing on top, so we are now calling for further clarity on a cost-effective Covid-19 testing regime for customers," said Heapy.