ALL passengers must be tested before AND after flights to help beat the spread of Covid, Southend’s airport boss has warned.

Glyn Jones, chief executive of Southend Airport, spoke out after the Government announced passengers arriving from all destinations will be required to present a negative Covid-19 test result before departing for England.

The move is designed help protect against new strains of coronavirus circulating internationally.

But Mr Jones said: “Ensuring a negative test for arrivals to the UK is half the solution, we need to test before travel for all, whether departing or arriving.

“A consistent approach across Europe would allow protection of all borders whilst preventing further spread.

“The Government must protect UK citizens and ensure people can travel with confidence as and when lockdowns are lifted.”

It comes as Ryanair - the largest carrier at Southend Airport - plans to make big cuts to its flight schedule from January 21 in response to the latest England coronavirus lockdowns.

The budget airline warned that few, if any, flights would operate to or from Ireland or the UK from the end of January until “draconian” restrictions put in place due to the pandemic were removed.

Airline bosses said new Covid restrictions could reduce traffic in February and March to as little as 500,000 passengers each month.

The firm expects January traffic to fall below 1.25 million.

Southend Airport bosses have previously spoken out about how lockdowns and the tier systems are huge blows for the struggling industry - but acknowledged it is vital to stop spread of Covid-19.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said travellers “can’t board... without having that negative test”.

But even with a negative test, arrivals from countries not on the travel corridor list must still quarantine.

Mr Shapps said the Government was “very keen” to set up compulsory testing now because of the new variant of the virus circulating in South Africa, which he said was “causing great concern with the scientists”.