Delhi Airport: COVID Testing Facility for air passengers launched

DIAL COVID-19 Testing sets the ball rolling!

Wednesday, 16th September 2020

International air passengers who are arriving at the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) can now undergo the COVID-19 test right at the Delhi airport itself.  Recently the Delhi airport has launched the first-of-its-kinds COVID-19 testing facility within the airport premises. This facility is empowered to test as many 2500 samples per day and the test results may be obtained within just 4-6 hours.

Although it is not a mandatory rule for the international passengers to go for the in-airport COVID-19 test yet if they do and test negative they can be spared from the institutional quarantine which is otherwise mandatory for all air passengers, officials reported.

Currently, all passengers arriving at the Delhi airport from the various international destinations must go for the institutional quarantine. Furthermore, passengers traveling through a connecting flight under the Vande Bharat mission need to quarantine themselves and live in isolation at their respective destination. But, passengers who get a RT-PCR negative test report are exempted from the rule of institutional quarantine and can proceed for their onward journey. Those who wish to get exempted need to undergo the RT-PCR Test at least 96 hrs prior to the onward journey.

Those who are journeying without a valid and approved COVID-19 negative certificate can opt for the advanced booking of a slot and the results of it may be expected within just 4-6 hrs. People planning to avail the slot must book it at least 1 hour ahead of arrival time and at least 4-6 hrs ahead of the departing flight.

In this context, a DIAL officer stated that the test is priced at about INR 2400 (USD 32.60) and waiting at the airport lounge is priced at about INR 2600 (USD 35.32). Free services like juice, water, meals etc will come with the testing. Also, passengers who wish to go for the hotel facility may do so but the hotel tariff may vary across the various hotels.

Source: Travel Daily Media