Belfast City has become the latest airport to announce an onsite Covid testing centre as it gears up for the resumption of international flights.
The airport is creating the facility in partnership with global diagnostics firm Randox, with options for both PCR and lateral flow tests.
Work on the centre is currently underway and it is expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Judith Davis, airport operations manager, said: “The PCR and antigen tests are a current requirement for passengers heading to the Netherlands, and with our KLM flights due to recommence over the next month, it is imperative that we have the testing facilities in place to enable those travelling for essential reasons to be able to do so in a convenient manner.
“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, allowing them to take the test before they leave Northern Ireland.”
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.
“The Randox Health Travel Centre at Belfast City Airport, providing accurate and cost-effective antigen and gold-standard PCR testing, is another positive step towards the normalisation of travel.”