SMART TRAVELLER

Airports offering COVID-19 tests

Travellers will have to get accustomed to testing requirements should they wish to go on work or leisure trips before the various vaccines are fully rolled out. To encourage the recovery of global travel, airports worldwide are setting up COVID-19 test centres ranging from walk-in and drive-through facilities to rapid testing in departure and arrival lounges. Here we round up some of the UK and European airports offering such services. Be aware that not all COVID-19 tests permit entry into every country – see “Which Covid-19 tests allow you to travel?” (businesstraveller.com/tag/pcr-test) for more details.

LONDON HEATHROW

The airport has partnered with Collinson to offer four types of tests – antibody, antigen, LAMP and PCR. Samples are processed on-site by staff from Prenetics, one of Collinson’s biotech partners. Passengers must book their test at collinsongroup.com before leaving for the airport. Heathrow has also set up a drive-through PCR test facility with Express

Test. Travellers should schedule a test 48-72 hours prior to their departure and those who screen negative will be emailed a “Fit to Fly” certificate authorised by a doctor, plus their test result.

Book at expresstest.co.uk and you will be sent a QR code to show alongside your passport.

Location: LAMP testing is carried out at Terminals 2 and 5 – see available time slots online. Express Test is located in the airport’s N4 car park, opposite the exit to Business Parking ( T2 and 3) on Northern Perimeter Road (off Bath Road); open 8am-8pm daily.

Cost: LAMP test £79; results in 90 minutes. PCR test (in terminal) £99; results in 48 hours. Antigen test £50; results in 45 minutes. Antibody test £40; results in 45 minutes. Drive-through PCR test £80 for passengers, £60 for Heathrow staff, £99 for the general public; results typically by 10pm the following day. heathrow.com

LONDON GATWICK

Gatwick has also partnered with Express Test for passengers, staff and local residents. It is also possible to get a test at Boots (pre-booking required at boots.com/covid-19-testing), while the airport’s Hilton and Sofitel hotels are offering “Test and Rest” packages that include PCR self-testing.

Location: Express Test is open 8am-8pm daily in the South Terminal’s long-stay car park. Boots offers tests at its South Terminal arrivals branch.

Cost: Express Test costs £60 for passengers and airport staff and £99 for the general public; results typically by 10pm the following day. Boots charges £120; results in 48 hours. gatwickairport.com

DUBLIN

The airport’s in-clinic and drive-through facilities offer PCR and LAMP tests. Book in advance via healthcare companies Randox (booking.randox.ie) and Roc Doc (rocdochealthcheck.ie).

Location: Randox Travel Centre close to T2 short-term car park; Roc Doc drive-through in Green car park (in- clinic test also available).

Cost: Clinic service PCR test €99; results in 24 hours. Drive-through PCR test €129; results in 24-48 hours. LAMP test €149; 12 hours (€199 for results within five hours). dublinairport.com

PARIS CHARLES DE GAULLE/PARIS ORLY

PCR and antigen tests are available for departing passengers up to 72 hours before a flight, in conjunction with Cerballiance laboratory. Book at doctolib.fr.

Location: Paris CDG Terminal 2E departures, opposite Gate 17; open 7am-5pm (12pm Sun). Orly 22A, at the arrivals level; open 7am-7pm (antigen tests only until 11am).

Cost: Free. PCR results in 48 hours; antigen in two hours. parisaeroport.fr

FRANKFURT

Centogene is offering PCR and rapid antigen tests – prebook at corona.centogene.com. Passengers from high-risk areas must enter a 10-day quarantine on arrival in Germany and can be tested from the fifth day.

Location: Pedestrian bridge linking T1 and mainline rail station; 6am-7pm (antigen test 8am-3pm).

Cost: PCR test €59 for results in 24 hours, €79 for 12 hours, €139 for six hours. Antigen test €79; results in two and a half hours. frankfurt-airport.com

MUNICH

Aicher Ambulanz Union (AAU) is offering PCR tests. Travellers can also use the MVZ Martinsried Test and Fly centre; advance booking necessary. Out of hours, departing passengers can get a Medicare PCR, antigen or antibody test.

Location: Level 4, Forum,

Munich Airport Centre; 6am-12am. Test and Fly T2, Level 4; 5am-7pm. Medicare centre T1, Module E, Level 3.

Cost: AAU tests are free; results in 48 hours. Test and Fly €128; six hours. Medicare PCR €181, antigen €81, antibody €55 (weekend/night surcharges); results in 24 hours. munich-airport.com

VIENNA

A PCR and rapid antigen testing centre has been set up for all passengers at the airport, but is not bookable in advance. Location: Office Park 3, between NH hotel and the Tower; 7am-7pm.

Cost: PCR test €120; results in a few hours (next day on weekends). Antigen test €35; 30 minutes. viennaairport.com