BELFAST City Airport is to open an on-site Covid testing centre in partnership with global diagnostics firm Randox in preparation for the return of international flights.
It comes just weeks after budget carrier Ryanair unveiled eight new routes from the airport to mainly European sun and city-break destinations including Mallorca, Milan, Valencia and Ibiza.
Work on the facility has already begun and is expected to be completed over the next month.
The City Airport centre will offer both PCR tests (mainly for people who have symptoms) and antigen (lateral flow) tests, which will give passengers access to quick and safe testing.
Such tests are a current requirement for passengers heading to the Netherlands, so must be in place for the resumption of KLM flights from City Airport over the next month.
The airport's operations manager Judith Davis said: “As well as for the KLM flights, the testing facilities will also help with forward planning for those who are connecting through major hub airports such as Manchester and London Heathrow, or travelling to sunshine destinations with our new airline partner Ryanair.”
Belfast City was the first airport in the north to achieve the ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation for its extensive health and safety measures, such as sanitising stations throughout the terminal and requiring anyone entering to wear a face covering.
David Adamson, regional manager at Randox Laboratories, said: “Along the roadmap out of lockdown, testing will remain a key part of the response to Covid-19 – not only to identify cases and prevent further spread, but also to assist with a return to social and economic normality.
“Providing accurate and cost-effective antigen and gold standard PCR testing at the City Airport centre is another positive step towards the normalisation of travel, and we are pleased to be working to support the airport's efforts to restore public confidence in international travel and get people back in the air again.”
H&J Martin asset management services is completing the fit out at the City Airport to include a resting area for passengers who have taken their test.
