Drive-through testing facility near Gatwick Airport
- New locations near Gatwick Airport and the O2 Arena, and expansion at Luton Airport offer increased choice for travellers flying into the UK.
Collinson is pleased to announce the expansion of its testing operations across the UK with the launch of a drive-through testing facility in APH’s longstay car park near Gatwick Airport. This follows the announcement last week of both drive-through and walk-in centres at the O2 Arena’s spacious car park. Simultaneously, Collinson will increase testing capabilities with in-terminal facilities at Luton Airport next month, adding to its existing drive-through offering.
This latest expansion cements Collinson’s testing presence supporting all major airports in England including Heathrow, Manchester, Luton, Stansted, London City and East Midlands airports. The investment being made by Collinson in establishing these new sites demonstrates its confidence that the pending announcement from Government regarding the resumption of travel will be positive, with travel returning and the travel sector beginning its recovery.
As summer draws closer and with it, the hope surrounding the lifting of travel restrictions, many travellers can take comfort in the knowledge there are ample testing sites that are convenient and easy to access to meet what is likely to be a surge in demand. The latest drive-through COVID-19 testing facility, a short drive from Gatwick Airport, will allow passengers to choose from a variety of tests including polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), RT-LAMP, Antigen and Antibody. As an accredited provider, Collinson’s new facility also enables those arriving in the UK to comply with the Mandatory Testing for International Arrivals programme, as well as the optional ‘Test to Release for International Travel’ scheme. Travellers can book their mandatory testing package via the Collinson website at a cost of £198. The first test in the package can be taken on arrival – extremely convenient for passengers arriving into Gatwick Airport.
David Evans, Joint CEO, Collinson, said, “Our ongoing work with the aviation and travel industry, coupled with our investment in creating the most flexible, convenient testing processes for passengers coming in and out of the UK goes hand in hand with our commitment to helping the travel industry recover.”
We know that airport testing will be at the heart of this and offers the best way to get passengers back in the air safely. Travel testing is key to a successful summer for both consumers and the industry and we hope that in expanding the testing operations we already have in place, we will confidently meet the expected surge in demand once travel restrictions are lifted.
Nick Caunter, Managing Director of Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) said, “With many people in the UK looking to go abroad this summer just as soon as restrictions are eased, we are delighted our partnership with Collinson will provide convenient testing capabilities near Gatwick Airport. Given the governments’ current requirements for testing on day two and eight of arrival back in the UK, the more convenience we can offer passengers flying from or living near Gatwick, the better.”
In continuing to expand testing capabilities across the UK, Collinson is offering travellers even more choice to access testing. As the first private provider to be given the go-ahead to offer the mandatory travel tests currently required by the UK Government directly in the airport terminal, the in-person testing process offered across all of Collinson’s testing facilities makes it easy for travellers to comply with Government guidelines by taking their first test on the day of arrival. Customers can then travel - using private transport wherever possible and following Government guidelines - to any of Collinson's testing centres for their second test on or after Day 8, including the convenient drive-through facilities at the 02 Arena and Gatwick.
