Boris Johnson is widely expected to make major changes to Covid restrictions on Tuesday. Heathrow said ministers “must recognise the success of the global vaccination programme and move from a country-based approach to a risk-based one, based on individuals’ vaccination status”.

“Fully vaccinated travellers should not be required to take a test, while those who are not vaccinated should continue to take a pre-departure and arrival test using lateral flow, following up with a PCR test if positive,” the airport stated.

Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye added: “The government has the tools to protect the UK’s international competitiveness, which will boost the economic recovery and achieve its Global Britain ambitions.

"If ministers fail to take this opportunity to streamline the travel rules, then the UK will fall further behind as trade and tourists will increasingly by-pass the UK.”

Heathrow has seen prolonged queues at immigration and the airport was once again critical of Border Force.

“Recent scenes of passengers waiting for hours to be processed through the UK border are totally unacceptable. Border Force can and should deliver both a secure UK border and an efficient service for passengers.

“As passenger numbers grow, Border Force must ensure they have adequate resources and processes in place to ensure travellers receive a warm welcome into the UK.”

Heathrow has slipped from first place in the league of Europe’s busiest airports to 10th. Passenger numbers were down 73% in the year to August and aircraft movements fell 49%. Passenger numbers in the month of August were down 71% compared with the same month pre-pandemic.