Birmingham Airport: Covid Testing Availability And Services

Birmingham Airport has implemented various measures to ensure the safety of its passengers and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include offering lateral flow tests to all employees, providing hand sanitiser stations, installing Perspex screens, enforcing social distancing, and mandating face coverings. Additionally, the airport has collaborated with ExpressTest to offer both walk-in and drive-through testing facilities for departing passengers. However, as of 2023, Birmingham Airport has considered scrapping testing for double-jabbed passengers, citing the need to simplify the travel process and reduce delays.

Covid testing for Birmingham Airport employees

Birmingham Airport has implemented several measures to protect its customers and employees from COVID-19, including mandatory face coverings, hand sanitiser stations, Perspex screens at customer touchpoints, social distancing markers, and an enhanced cleaning regime using anti-viral mist treatment.

In addition, as part of its ongoing efforts, Birmingham Airport launched a free rapid testing service for all on-site employees in March 2021. This service, provided in collaboration with Solihull Council, aimed to identify any positive cases of COVID-19 among asymptomatic staff members. Employees were trained to set up and conduct quality-assured lateral flow tests, with dedicated testing centres and a booking platform established for regular testing. Results were delivered directly by the NHS Test and Trace service within 30 minutes, and positive cases were required to self-isolate and follow government guidelines.

Birmingham Airport also collects personal information from employees to facilitate COVID-19 lateral flow testing. This information is shared with the NHS during the testing process and is stored securely on SharePoint for three months. The airport's capacity team and test site leaders have access to this data. Employees who test positive are required to inform their manager and follow self-isolation protocols.

The airport has also proposed scrapping COVID-19 testing for double-jabbed passengers to reduce queues and speed up the boarding process. However, this decision has been met with concerns about the safety of vaccinated individuals who may still carry and transmit the virus.

Covid testing for passengers at Birmingham Airport

Birmingham Airport offers Covid testing services for passengers. The airport has previously experienced long queues and delays, which have resulted in passengers missing their flights. To address this issue, the airport introduced a paid "express lane security" option for passengers to skip the queues and move through the checkpoint faster. However, due to high demand, bookings for this service have been paused for the foreseeable future.

On-site Testing Options:

ExpressTest operates two testing sites at Birmingham Airport: a walk-in clinic located on the first floor next to Burger King and departures, and a drive-through facility in car park seven, next to the Holiday Inn and Travelodge hotels. The walk-in clinic offers both PCR "Fit to Fly" and antigen lateral flow "Fit to Fly" tests, while the drive-through clinic offers only PCR "Fit to Fly" tests. All tests must be pre-booked in advance.

PCR testing prices start from £59 per person, while antigen testing costs from £35.

Off-site Testing Options:

Randox Health Birmingham, located on the High Street in Birmingham City Centre, also provides PCR and antigen tests. They offer both in-clinic and at-home testing options. This facility operates from Monday to Saturday, with varying hours, and pre-booking is required.

Future Plans:

In 2021, Birmingham Airport proposed scrapping Covid testing for double-jabbed passengers altogether. They argued that the extra layer of security checks, including testing and document verification, caused delays and increased stress for staff and passengers. However, it is unclear if these changes have been implemented, as the UK Government continues to review and amend Covid-19 travel restrictions.

Additional Precautions:

Birmingham Airport has implemented several measures to create a COVID-secure environment, including hand sanitiser stations, Perspex screens at customer touchpoints, social distancing markers, and enhanced cleaning using anti-viral mist treatment. Face coverings are mandatory in airport buildings and buses.

Benefits of removing Covid testing at Birmingham Airport

Birmingham Airport has proposed removing Covid testing for double-jabbed passengers. The benefits of removing Covid testing at Birmingham Airport are:

Reduced waiting times

With nearly half a million passengers travelling through its terminals in August 2021, extra security, testing, and document checks have caused delays. Removing the testing requirement for vaccinated passengers would reduce the number of people queuing, leading to shorter lines and quicker boarding.

Improved staff efficiency

The removal of testing requirements would reduce the workload for airport staff conducting checks, improving their efficiency and reducing stress.

Cost savings for the airport

With fewer tests needed, the airport would also save money on purchasing Covid-19 tests.

Increased passenger numbers

The removal of testing requirements could attract more passengers due to the convenience of not having to undergo testing and avoiding long lines.

Simplified travel process

Streamlining the travel process by removing testing requirements for vaccinated passengers would make it easier for people to navigate the airport and reduce confusion.

While there are concerns about the potential risks of unvaccinated individuals spreading Covid-19, Birmingham Airport's proposal focuses on removing testing for double-jabbed passengers, who are less likely to transmit the virus.

Safety concerns of removing Covid testing at Birmingham Airport

Birmingham Airport has proposed removing Covid testing for double-jabbed passengers to reduce queues and wait times. While this would improve efficiency and save money for the airport and passengers, there are safety concerns associated with this decision.

Firstly, even fully vaccinated individuals can still contract and spread Covid-19, albeit at a lower rate. Removing testing for this group could increase the risk of an outbreak at the airport, with potentially thousands of passengers affected. As airports are enclosed spaces with a high volume of people in close proximity, the risk of transmission is heightened.

Secondly, testing helps identify asymptomatic carriers, who may unknowingly spread the virus. Without testing, these individuals could board flights and infect others, including those who are more vulnerable to the virus. This is especially concerning given the large number of passengers passing through Birmingham Airport daily.

Thirdly, vaccines have not been authorised for children under 12 in most parts of the world, leaving a significant group of unvaccinated individuals. Testing plays a crucial role in mitigating the risk of transmission among this group. Removing testing requirements could put young, unvaccinated passengers at risk.

Additionally, new variants of the virus may emerge that are more transmissible or able to evade vaccine protection. Regular testing helps identify these variants and track their spread. Removing testing requirements could hinder the ability to detect and control new variants.

Lastly, testing requirements provide an added layer of protection for both passengers and staff. While vaccination rates are high in the UK, there are still those who are unvaccinated or immunocompromised and at higher risk of severe disease. Testing helps protect these vulnerable individuals and provides reassurance to all travellers.

In conclusion, while removing Covid testing for double-jabbed passengers at Birmingham Airport may improve efficiency and reduce costs, it also raises safety concerns. The potential increase in transmission risk, the presence of unvaccinated individuals, the emergence of new variants, and the protection of vulnerable groups are all important factors to consider. Balancing the benefits of efficiency with the risks to public health is a complex decision that requires careful consideration and ongoing evaluation.

Private Covid testing near Birmingham Airport

Birmingham Airport has a paid COVID-19 testing service for passengers located in the terminal building. This service, delivered by ExpressTest, is for those who need to prove a negative PCR or antigen test result and obtain a 'fit to fly' certificate, which is required by many destinations served by the airport.

Birmingham Airport also provides Lateral Flow Testing for employees, which is free of charge. This service was launched in partnership with Solihull Council, which trained airport personnel to set up and carry out testing. The aim is to identify asymptomatic cases among staff and ensure that those who test positive can self-isolate promptly to reduce the spread of the virus.

In addition, Randox Health provides PCR and antigen testing at a city centre location near Birmingham Airport. The address is 39 High Street, B4 7SL, beside Primark in Birmingham City Centre. The facility operates from Monday and Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm and from Tuesday to Friday from 7 am to 7 pm. Pre-booking an appointment is required, and using the code BHX10 will give you a 10% discount on all tests. Randox Health also offers at-home PCR and antigen tests.

If you are travelling, it is important to check the testing requirements of your destination country and airline. While the UK has removed the requirement for COVID-19 tests before arrival from non-red list countries, some countries may still require a negative test result for entry.

Frequently asked questions