News

Manchester Airport passengers to be offered largest scale of pre-departure testing in the UK

The new COVID-19 testing facility aims to help get Britain flying again.

The Manc The Manc - 3rd December 2020
Manchester Airport

Manchester Airport has today launched a new COVID-19 testing facility as part of the UK’s largest airport testing scheme aiming to help get Britain flying again.

The facility comes as part of a move by its parent company, Manchester Airports Group (MAG).

The announcement means the full range of COVID-19 tests – RT-PCR, RT-LAMP, Rapid Antigen and Antibody – will all be available to passengers in a new, purpose-built facility just outside of the main terminal building, and will be delivered in partnership with airport services and travel medical provider, Collinson.

MAG – the UK’s largest airport group – also became the first operator to give its passengers the chance to book discounted pre-flight testing appointments on the high street at selected Boots UK stores.

According to MAG, this news means that passengers using Manchester Airport – and London Stansted and East Midlands Airports – will be “given maximum flexibility when planning their trips”.

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The plans also come in the week that the UK government has lifted England’s international travel ban.

Certain governments globally allow pre-departure tests in order to shorten, or completely alleviate, quarantine requirements in the destination country.

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Others require them in order to gain entry.

But having a full range of tests available now available at Manchester airport for any passenger planning to fly who does not suspect they have COVID-19, will let MAG passengers choose whichever process they need in order to meet the pre-departure testing requirements.

This will apply to many of MAG’s most popular markets, such as Spain and Italy, as well as some long-haul destinations.

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Passengers will also be able to book the tests they need to shorten their self-isolation period upon return under the UK government’s Test to Release scheme – announced last week and launching on 15th December – which will allow travellers arriving from higher-risk countries to reduce their period of quarantine by taking a test five days after they arrive in the UK.

Manchester Airport

The Test to Release scheme follows in the footsteps of a number of countries who are already offering quarantine-free inbound travel to those able to provide evidence of a negative test.

As aforementioned, Boots offers an in-store RT-PCR COVID-19 testing service – which returns results within 48 hours – from more than 50 stores across the UK and is specifically for customers who do not suspect they have COVID-19.

MAG passengers will now be able to access a 5% discount through the airport’s website.

Manchester Airport testing prices through Collinson start at £40 for Antibody tests, £50 for Antigen tests, £79 for RT-LAMP tests, and £99 for RT-PCR tests.

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You can find more information via the Manchester Airport website here.

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For the latest information, guidance and support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, please do refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus.

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