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 10pmthe following day. heathrow.com

LONDON GATWICK