Bangalore Airport: Covid Testing Availability And Process

Yes, the Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore has a dedicated COVID-19 testing facility for passengers, both inbound and outbound. The 24/7 COVID testing center near the arrivals area of the terminal offers both Rapid RT-PCR tests (Abbott ID NOW) and regular RT-PCR tests. The result of a Rapid RT-PCR test is available within 30 minutes, whereas the regular RT-PCR test results are delivered within 5-6 hours from the time of sample collection. A Rapid RT-PCR test costs a few times more than the cost of a regular RT-PCR test at Bangalore Airport.

COVID testing facility at Bangalore Airport

The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), Bangalore, has put together measures to curb the spread of the new Covid-19 variant BF.7 in India. The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has launched two 24/7 COVID-19 testing facilities at the airport for both departing and arriving passengers.

Who Needs to Take the Test?

As per the guidelines released by India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), effective 24 December 2022, the following requirements have to be followed by international arrivals at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), Bangalore:

• De-boarding should be done, ensuring physical distancing.
• Thermal screening should be done for all the passengers by the health officials present at the point of entry.
• The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated and taken to a designated medical facility as per the health protocol mentioned above.
• A sub-section (2% of the total passengers in the flight) shall undergo random post-arrival testing at the airport on arrival. Please note that children under 12 years of age are exempted from post-arrival random testing. However, if found symptomatic for COVID-19 on arrival or during the self-monitoring period, they shall undergo testing and be treated as per the laid-down protocol.
• Such travellers on each flight shall be identified by the concerned airlines (preferably from different countries). They will submit the samples and shall be allowed to leave the airport thereafter.
• If such travellers' samples are tested positive, their samples should be further sent for genomic testing at the INSACOG laboratory network.
• All travellers should self-monitor their health post arrival and shall report to their nearest health facility or call the National helpline number (1075)/ State Helpline Number in case they have any suggestive symptoms.
• Please note that pre-arrival registration on Air Suvidha is mandatory for passengers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand. These passengers must upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result on the online platform to gain entry to India. After arriving in India, if the passengers test positive, they will be quarantined according to the respective state procedure.

Testing Procedure

Passengers can pre-book a slot and pay in advance for the RT-PCR test at the Airport by logging in to the link below:

• COVID19 Testing Center at Kempegowda International Airport (aurigaresearch.com)
• Aster Labs – Covid 19 testing centre at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru

Test Costs

At Aruga Research and Aster Labs, the charges for Rapid RT-PCR are INR 3000 (USD 36.26), and RT-PCR is INR 500 (USD 6.04). Aruga Research also offers a Rapid Antigen Test at INR 400 (USD 4.83).

Test Results

The Rapid RT-PCR test result would be available in less than 30 minutes, while the regular RT-PCR test result would take up to 6 hours. Reports would be shared directly with those tested through digital platforms.

Testing charges at Bangalore Airport

The Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore has a dedicated COVID-19 testing facility for passengers, both inbound and outbound. The testing facility is equipped with a sample collection kiosk inside the terminal and a state-of-the-art laboratory outside it as well as a waiting lounge.

The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has launched two round-the-clock COVID-19 testing facilities at the airport for both departing and arriving passengers. Passengers can pre-book a slot and pay in advance for the RT-PCR test at the Airport by logging in to the link: COVID19 Testing Center at Kempegowda International Airport (aurigaresearch.com).

The charges for Rapid RT-PCR tests at the Bangalore Airport range from INR 2400 to INR 3000, while the charges for regular RT-PCR tests range from INR 500 to INR 800.

Random testing at Bangalore Airport

• De-boarding should be done, ensuring physical distancing.
• Thermal screening should be done for all the passengers by the health officials present at the point of entry.
• The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated and taken to a designated medical facility as per the health protocol mentioned above.
• A sub-section (2% of the total passengers in the flight) shall undergo random post-arrival testing at the airport on arrival. Please note that children under 12 years of age are exempted from post-arrival random testing. However, if found symptomatic for COVID-19 on arrival or during the self-monitoring period, they shall undergo testing and be treated as per the laid down protocol.
• Such travellers on each flight shall be identified by the concerned airlines (preferably from different countries). They will submit the samples and shall be allowed to leave the airport thereafter.
• If such travellers’ samples are tested positive, their samples should be further sent for genomic testing at the INSACOG laboratory network.
• All travellers should self-monitor their health post-arrival and shall report to their nearest health facility or call the National helpline number (1075)/ State Helpline Number in case they have any suggestive symptoms.
• Pre-arrival registration on Air Suvidha is mandatory for passengers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand. These passengers must upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result on the online platform to gain entry to India. After arriving in India, if the passengers test positive, they will be quarantined according to the respective state procedure.

Mandatory COVID test on arrival at Bangalore Airport

Who Needs to Take the Test?

According to the guidelines released by India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the following requirements have to be followed by international arrivals at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), Bangalore:

• All passengers must de-board the plane while ensuring physical distancing.
• Thermal screening by health officials will be conducted for all passengers at the point of entry.
• Passengers who are symptomatic during screening will be immediately isolated and taken to a designated medical facility as per the health protocol.

Post-Arrival Protocol

• A subsection of 2% of the total passengers in the flight shall undergo random post-arrival testing at the airport. Children under 12 years of age are exempt from post-arrival random testing. However, if found symptomatic for COVID-19 on arrival or during the self-monitoring period, they shall undergo testing and be treated as per the laid-down protocol.
• Travellers identified for testing will submit their samples and will be allowed to leave the airport thereafter.
• If such travellers' samples are tested positive, their samples should be sent for genomic testing at the INSACOG laboratory network.
• All travellers should self-monitor their health post-arrival and report to their nearest health facility or call the National helpline number (1075) or State Helpline Number if they experience any suggestive symptoms of COVID-19.
• Pre-arrival registration on Air Suvidha is mandatory for passengers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand. These passengers must upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result on the online platform to gain entry to India. After arriving in India, if the passengers test positive, they will be quarantined according to the respective state procedure.

Testing Procedure

The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has launched two round-the-clock COVID-19 testing facilities at the airport for both departing and arriving passengers. Passengers can pre-book a slot and pay in advance for the RT-PCR test at the Airport by logging in to the link provided on the BIAL website.

Test Costs

At Aruga Research and Aster Labs, the charges for Rapid RT-PCR are INR 3000 (USD 36.26), and RT-PCR is INR 500 (USD 6.04). Aruga Research also offers a Rapid Antigen Test at INR 400 (USD 4.83).

Test Results

The Rapid RT-PCR test result would be available in less than 30 minutes, while the regular RT-PCR test result would take up to 6 hours. Reports will be shared directly with those tested through digital platforms.

COVID test for passengers to UAE

As of August 2021, a number of airports in India offered rapid COVID-19 testing facilities for passengers travelling to the UAE. These included all four international airports in Kerala (Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode, and Kannur), as well as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mangaluru, and Ahmedabad.

However, as of January 2024, Mangaluru airport still did not have rapid COVID-19 testing facilities available.

According to Air India Express, passengers aged 12 and above travelling to the UAE must possess a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test report in printed form. This report must be obtained from a government-approved laboratory in India (ICMR) or a certified designated laboratory. The test should be conducted within 96 hours of departure. Passengers with moderate or severe disabilities are exempt from this requirement.

Frequently asked questions