MADRID – Following the opening of the test centres at the airports of Malaga, Seville and Madrid, the test facilities at the other 13 planned locations are now also almost operational. Travellers can then have themselves tested at the airports.
These are the airports of Barcelona, Alicante, Valencia, Bilbao, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, Gran Canaria, Tenerife Sur, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Palma. This means it is possible to have a PCR test taken to meet the requirements of not being older than 12 hours upon arrival in other European countries and the UK. This is also the case at the three airports where the test location is already running.
The Spanish airport authority AENA has hired the company Eurofins Megalab to conduct the Covid-19 diagnostic tests at 12 airports. Eurofins is a leading company in the Spanish clinical analysis market. The recovery of air traffic will be accelerated with the test centres yet to be opened. This is a major driver of the recovery of Spanish economic activities.
The company has designed an online system for purchasing the tests, booking appointments and accessing the results online. The aim is to minimise the risk of infection and the spread of the virus during air travel.
Who can be tested?
This service is intended to enable Covid-19 testing for passengers and tourists who are required to submit a negative result at their destination or who, failing this, must comply with quarantine requirements.
The test service is available to all types of passengers (departing or arriving), their party, crew and other airport personnel.
Before making an appointment, it is important to check whether the airport concerned has taken measures to restrict the passage of passengers prior to boarding. On production of a boarding pass, you are only permitted to stay in the airport within the time strictly necessary to perform the diagnostic tests.
Available tests
You can go to Eurofins Megalab for the PCR test; a rapid PCR test PCR and Antigen rapid tests and antibody tests (IgG and IgM antibodies. You can find more information on the Eurofins Megalab website. There is also an app available to make appointments. This can also be done directly via this website. According to Radio Cope the labs will open before Easter, so that should be Wednesday March 31.
Prices
Aena teamed up with the company that could offer the most competitive prices for the various tests. It is not yet clear what price will be charged per specific test. It is clear that the tests carried out by labs contracted by AENA at the airports of Malaga, Seville and Madrid are much cheaper than those required on average in other test centres. At these three airports, the PCR test costs €58.68, a rapid test costs €24.45 and an antibody test €29.34.
