A new Covid-19 testing facility has opened at Heathrow airport, with 24 lanes open 365 days a year.
Express Test claims that the drive-through site – located at the airport’s N4 car park off the Bath Road – is the largest private Covid-19 screen facility in the UK.
When fully operational the site will house two on-site labs capable of processing over 5,000 tests daily, “with results typically received the next day”.
The facility is initially offering PCR tests, which the group says “could be used by departing passengers looking to satisfy international travel requirements”.
Tests cost £80 for passengers, £60 for Heathrow staff, and £99 for the general public.
It follows the launch of similar Express Test sites at Edinburgh and Gatwick airports in recent weeks.
Those testing negative will be emailed a ‘Fit to Fly’ certificate that is authorised by a doctor, along with their test result, but Express Test stresses that “passengers will be responsible for checking with their travel provider as to whether this document is accepted before booking the screening service”.
Tests can be booked at expresstest.co.uk for slots between 0800 and 2000, and customers will be sent a QR to take along to the appointment, along with passport or employee ID.
Express Test’s co-founder Nick Markham said that the group’s aim had been “to provide people with the peace of mind they need to go about their daily lives, whether that’s travelling or simply visiting friends and family safely”, while Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye commented:
“We’re delighted to host this site which will help our passengers to get away safely in time for the festive season. Testing is crucial to the UK’s recovery from this pandemic and we look forward to working with Express Test, Government and our airlines to better understand how pre-departure testing could be used to eradicate the need to quarantine on arrival.”
For our round-up of testing facilities being offered at airports worldwide, see:
