NEWCASTLE International Airport has introduced Covid-19 testing for passengers who require a negative test to be allowed entry into their destination.
DESTINATIONS around the world are requiring passengers to provide a negative Covid-19 test upon entry, and tests carried out by the NPH Group at Newcastle Airport are now available for passengers to book.
If you require a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, a booking will need to be made via the NPH Group website and will cost £99.00 per person.
Bookings for a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test at Newcastle International Airport can be made here .
A date and time for the booking will need to be chosen by the passengers, and must ensure it meets the travel requirements of your trip, before making payment online.
A spokesperson for Newcastle International Airport has said: “Tests must be pre-booked via the NPH Group website and the results are then provided within 36-48 hours.”
According to the Newcastle International Airport’s Covid-19 testing page on their website they “will not be able to refund a booked appointment if it is within 48 hours of the appointment.”
Once the appointment is booked, passengers must arrive at the NPH testing facility with their booking confirmation and passport at least 10 minutes – but preferably 15 minutes – prior to the appointment.
Passengers will be able to get their test at the Airport’s NPH testing facility which is located at the Premium Meet and Greet building.
A qualified NPH clinician will carry out the test, which will then be couriered to the Newcastle based laboratory and after 36-48 hours, passengers will receive a ‘Fit to Fly’ or ‘Not Fit to Fly’ certificate via email which states their result.
A spokesperson at Newcastle International Airport has said: “This testing facility is for departing passengers who require a negative PCR COVID-19 test to be allowed entry into their destination.
“It is not for arriving passengers to reduce quarantine.”
If passengers have already been tested by the NHS or as part of the mass testing scheme, the test will not be valid as countries require a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test and a ‘fit to fly’ certificate which is not possible via the NHS or mass testing schemes.
The most commonly travelled to countries from the UK that will require a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test are:
- Cyprus
- Italy
- Portugal
- Spain
- Turkey
*According to the Foreign travel advice issued by the UK Government. More information can be viewed here.
Despite Newcastle International Airport offering Covid-19 tests for passengers upon arrival to their foreign destination, the airport is facing financial troubles. Passengers numbers were currently “two to three per cent” of normal levels, airport bosses have said.
Graeme Mason, planning and corporate affairs director at Newcastle International Airport, has said: “In the original lockdown we had zero passengers through the airport.
“It’s going to be a long road to recovery, several years – possibly three or four years – to get back to passenger numbers we had in 2019.”
In 2019, about 5.5 million passengers flew through Newcastle International Airport. The airport hopes a scheme reducing the isolation period for travellers will help in aiding its recovery.
This comes after the announcement made by the transport secretary, Grant Shapps that from December 15, 2020 people arriving in England from abroad can shorten their quarantine by more than half if they pay for a Covid-19 test after five days of arrival.
Mr Mason has said: “This will help encourage people to travel.”
If passengers wish to speak to someone prior to booking, you can email the team at testing@newcastleinternational.co.uk or alternatively call the call centre which is open 9am to 1pm Monday to Sunday on 0191 214 4214.