George Best Belfast City Airport has today opened a new Covid-19 testing facility with leading global diagnostics company, Randox.

The test centre, purpose-built by leading Belfast building firm H&J Martin, offers quick and affordable PCR and antigen (lateral flow) tests, with its opening coinciding with the resumption of international flights from Belfast City Airport.

Airport Operations Manager, Judith Davis, explained:

“Flights have resumed today from Belfast City to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport with our airline partner KLM, which is another positive step as airlines across the world rebuild and restart their networks.

“Currently the Dutch Government requires all passengers entering the Netherlands to have taken and returned a negative result from both a PCR and an antigen (lateral flow) test. Providing this service on-site is the ultimate convenience for our passengers, which is something we pride ourselves on and continually strive to enhance.”

PCR tests by Randox at Belfast City Airport are available at the reduced price of £85, with antigen tests available for £45. Judith details further the benefits this offers the people of Northern Ireland:

“These tests, which must be pre-booked, aren’t just reserved for passengers flying from Belfast City Airport but are also available for non-flying members of the general public.

“The fact that results from the antigen tests are returned within one hour, and a digital ‘safe to fly’ certificate is issued directly to the passenger’s mobile device, is also another huge bonus and adds a further layer of convenience for our customers who need to travel.”

Speaking of the partnership with Belfast City Airport, and the importance of this test facility at the UK and Ireland’s most convenient airport, Project Manager at Randox, Sophie Boyd, said:

“Randox are committed to supporting those wishing to undertake international travel, including holidays, and the travel industry. In doing so we believe we will be improving wellbeing and supporting employment.

“As flights resume and we open the Randox Health Travel Centre at Belfast City Airport we will provide competitive, effective and efficient testing to support the travelling public.

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with Belfast City Airport and wish them every success in re-establishing their international travel links.”

This Covid-19 testing facility is the latest health and safety measure to be implemented at Belfast City Airport, which was the first airport in Northern Ireland to achieve the ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation for its extensive, thorough, and best-in-class passenger safety procedures.

“The wellbeing of our passengers and staff remains of paramount importance to us and those travelling to the airport can be reassured that stringent measures are in place for their safety” Judith concluded.

Covid-19 testing at Belfast City Airport is available by appointment only and slots can be booked now at www.randox.com.