Airports And Covid-19 Testing: What To Expect When Traveling

As countries continue to battle the spread of COVID-19, airports have become key sites for testing and vaccination services. While some airports offer testing for specific airlines and passengers, others have opened their doors to the general public, with some even providing free tests and vaccines. In the US, airports such as Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport have been at the forefront of providing COVID-19 health services. These airports offer a range of testing options, including rapid antigen, rapid PCR, and combined COVID and flu tests, with results available in as little as 15 minutes to three hours. Additionally, airports like Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport provide free vaccinations for both residents and non-residents. Outside the US, Frankfurt Airport in Germany has also played a significant role in COVID-19 testing, with Lufthansa and Centogene establishing a testing centre capable of handling 10,000 tests per day.

COVID-19 testing at airports: a viable solution?

As countries continue to grapple with the challenge of preventing the spread of COVID-19, the question of whether testing at airports is a practical and effective solution remains a subject of debate. While some argue that testing at airports can help prevent the spread of the virus and facilitate safe travel, others question its feasibility and prefer alternative approaches.

Advantages of Airport Testing

Testing for COVID-19 at airports is seen as a way to boost traveller confidence and restart the hard-hit aviation industry. It can provide valuable insights on infection rates and help contain the spread by identifying infected individuals, particularly asymptomatic ones, who might otherwise slip through the cracks. Testing at airports can also reduce the need for lengthy quarantines, which have been a significant deterrent to travel.

Examples of Successful Airport Testing

Several airports have implemented COVID-19 testing with varying levels of success. Frankfurt Airport, in partnership with Lufthansa and Centogene, conducted 150,000 tests over the summer with a positivity rate of about 1%. They offer results within 24 hours, with an option for faster results at a higher cost. Hamburg, Düsseldorf, and Munich airports in Germany have followed suit, offering testing services to departing passengers. In the United States, airports such as John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), and Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) provide testing facilities for travellers.

Challenges and Criticisms

Despite these success stories, implementing a unified, global approach to airport testing has proven challenging. The lack of standardised guidelines and the organisational complexities of testing large numbers of people in confined spaces are significant hurdles. ACI World senior vice president Michael Rossell argues that testing at airports is not the optimal solution due to capacity constraints and the potential for spreading the virus by congregating people in one place.

Alternative Approaches

Instead of testing at airports, Rossell suggests a mandatory pre-departure testing programme with secure storage of results that can serve as a medical certificate for travellers. This "risk-based testing programme" would vary depending on the infection prevalence in the specific country, eliminating unnecessary testing when travelling between regions with similar infection rates.

While COVID-19 testing at airports has its merits, it is not without its challenges and limitations. A more effective approach may be to focus on pre-departure testing and the development of rapid, accurate, and affordable testing methods. However, with the aviation industry desperate to recover, a combination of strategies, including airport testing, could be part of a comprehensive solution to facilitate safe travel and restore confidence in air travel.

Airports offering COVID-19 testing

As air travel resumes, several airports worldwide are offering COVID-19 tests to travellers. This development is part of efforts to make air travel safer and more reassuring in the wake of the pandemic. Testing availability and requirements may vary across airports, so it is advisable to check with the specific airport before travelling. Here is a list of some airports that have been reported to offer COVID-19 testing:

United States

• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI): BWI's First Call Medical Center offers various COVID-19 tests, including rapid antigen, rapid PCR, and combined COVID and flu tests. The clinic is located in Terminal C and is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): Testing is available at three locations within the airport, including Terminal 1 (Departures Level), Terminal 4 (Arrivals Level), and Terminal 8 (Red Parking Garage). Testing options include PCR and rapid antigen tests, with results typically available within a few hours.
• Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD): Doctors Test Centers, in collaboration with Simple Laboratories, offer rapid antigen and PCR testing at O'Hare. The testing site is located in the Bus Shuttle Center on Level 1 of the main parking garage. Appointments can be booked in advance, and walk-ins are also accepted.
• Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC): The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services arranges and funds the testing sites at this airport. Free PCR testing and vaccinations are available for individuals aged 12 and above. Testing and vaccinations are accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP): The airport offers free COVID-19 testing for Minnesota residents and charges a fee for non-residents. Testing is located in Terminal 1 and is available by appointment only.
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): LAX has launched an onsite COVID-19 screening lab with three locations offering PCR tests. Appointments are recommended, but some walk-in appointments may be available. A rapid antigen test option is also planned for the future.
• Oakland International Airport (OAK): COVID-19 testing is available at this airport, but it is exclusive to passengers travelling to Hawaii. A testing fee of $120, plus a $20 administrative charge, is applicable.
• San Diego International Airport (SAN): COVID-19 testing at this airport is restricted to American Airlines passengers only.
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO): Testing is limited to Cathay Pacific Airways passengers and United Airlines passengers with confirmed travel originating from SFO to specific destinations.
• Bradley International Airport (BDL): COVID-19 testing is available for a fee of $125, depending on insurance coverage.
• Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL): PCR and rapid antigen tests are offered at this airport for varying fees.
• Tampa International Airport (TPA): PCR and rapid antigen tests are available for a fee.
• Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL): Testing is exclusive to interisland travellers.
• General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport (BOS): COVID-19 testing is available, and fees vary based on the type of test.
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR): Testing options include PCR and rapid tests, and fees vary accordingly.
• LaGuardia Airport (LGA): COVID-19 testing is available at this airport.
• Portland International Airport (PDX): Testing is exclusive to Alaska Airlines passengers.
• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL): PCR and rapid antigen tests are offered for different fees.
• Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT): This airport offers a combination of rapid antigen, PCR, and combined tests for varying fees.
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW): Testing is limited to American Airlines passengers on select flights.
• Burlington International Airport (BTV): PCR and rapid antigen tests are available for different fees.

Other Countries

• Frankfurt Airport, Germany: Lufthansa and Centogene have established a walk-in coronavirus testing centre at this airport for arriving and departing passengers. The testing centre has been expanded to handle a high volume of tests and offers fast lanes for premium travellers.
• Vienna International Airport, Austria: The airport commenced COVID-19 testing, aiming to provide results within three to six hours. The molecular-biological COVID-19 test, also known as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, incurs a cost of about $215.
• Athens International Airport, Greece: The airport features a PCR testing centre for arriving and departing passengers. Visitors must register and pay online for the test in advance.
• Abu Dhabi International Airport, United Arab Emirates: The airport has launched an on-site RT-PCR testing lab, offering rapid tests to arriving passengers at both terminals and airport staff. The test is provided free of charge for arriving passengers, with results available within 90 minutes.

Random COVID-19 testing at airports

In the United States, some airports have offered COVID-19 testing and vaccination services to travellers and staff. For instance, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) opened a full-service urgent care clinic in August 2021, offering various COVID-19 tests and vaccines. Similarly, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) provides testing services at three locations, including rapid antigen and PCR tests, with results typically available within an hour to a few hours.

The resumption of random COVID-19 testing at airports has been a topic of discussion and debate. While some travellers support the measure as a way to ensure their safety and that of their families and the wider community, others question its necessity, especially after having travelled a long distance. The testing has also been a source of chaos and delays at airports, leading to criticism from tourism and air travel industry groups.

As international travel continues to rebound from the impacts of the pandemic, the implementation of efficient and rapid COVID-19 testing programs at airports remains a crucial consideration for governments and the private sector.

COVID-19 testing centres at Lufthansa airports

Lufthansa has set up COVID-19 testing centres at Frankfurt and Munich airports, in partnership with German company Centogene and Fraport. The testing centre at Frankfurt Airport is located on the pedestrian bridge connecting Terminal 1 and the intercity railway station (The Squaire). It offers certified antigen, PCR, POC antibody, and free citizen tests. Exclusive fast lanes are available for Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines passengers.

At Munich Airport, the testing centre is located in the airport's medical clinic in Terminal 1, Area E. The centre offers certified antigen, PCR, LAMP, and TMA tests.

In addition to the testing centres at Frankfurt and Munich, Lufthansa has also expanded its COVID-19 testing facilities to Hamburg Airport. The testing centre is located on the pedestrian bridge connecting Terminal 1 and the intercity railway station.

Lufthansa recommends that passengers register and book their tests in advance, as capacity at the airports may be limited. The tests are available for a fee, and passengers can register by calling the airport emergency department or visiting the relevant registration pages on the Lufthansa website.

Lufthansa is also considering opening test centres at airports in the United States and Canada to expand its network of testing centres.

COVID-19 detecting dogs at Miami International Airport

Miami International Airport is the first airport in the world to employ COVID-19 detecting dogs. The dogs are part of a pilot program that began in September 2021, in which two COVID-19 detecting canines, Cobra (a Belgian Malinois) and One Betta (a Dutch Shepherd), screen American Airlines employees for the virus at a security checkpoint. The dogs have undergone special training and can detect the virus in a traveller and alert authorities. They have an accuracy rate of 96% to 99% and are considered a valuable tool in the ongoing pandemic.

The dogs can detect a scent from COVID-19 that is excreted through a person's breath and sweat after the virus causes metabolic changes in the body. This capability was leveraged by Cobra and One Betta when they were previously deployed to the Florida Governor's emergency operation centre, where they searched for surfaces contaminated with the virus. They were also used at the South Beach Food and Wine Festival to screen attendees for possible COVID-19 infections.

Future Plans

The pilot program at Miami International Airport may be expanded to other areas of the airport, depending on its success. There is also talk of implementing similar programs in other airports, with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention observing the dogs in action at Miami. The Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman, Jose "Pepe" Diaz, has expressed interest in growing the number of COVID-19 detecting dogs in the county, acknowledging their impressive accuracy in COVID detection.

Other Airport Testing Measures

While Miami International Airport is the first to utilise COVID-19 detecting dogs, other airports have implemented different testing measures. For example, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport has a full-service urgent care clinic that offers various COVID-19 tests, as well as the three available vaccines. John F. Kennedy International Airport "strongly recommends" that departing international travellers undergo COVID-19 testing before arriving at the airport, but also provides testing services for those who are unable to do so. Chicago O'Hare International Airport offers free rapid antigen and PCR testing for travellers and airport employees until the end of 2022, with results available within 20 minutes to 72 hours.

As international air travel continues to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic, it remains to be seen whether more airports will adopt the use of COVID-19 detecting dogs or explore alternative testing strategies to enhance safety and facilitate travel.

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