[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyewon] The COVID-19 testing center at Incheon Airport will begin operations at Terminal 1 in August. Currently, the COVID-19 testing center at Incheon Airport is only located at Terminal 2.
Incheon International Airport Corporation announced on the 21st that it signed an "Incheon Airport Terminal 1 COVID-19 Testing Center Operation Agreement" with Ewha Medical Foundation and Myongji Medical Foundation Myongji Hospital at the corporation's conference room.
The corporation plans to expand and operate two COVID-19 testing centers (one each on the east and west sides) in the outdoor area on the first floor of the Terminal 1 Transportation Center, aiming to open them in August.
To proactively prepare for the expected increase in international departing passengers due to the expansion of COVID-19 vaccinations, the corporation will establish the Terminal 1 COVID-19 testing center as a facility capable of testing up to 4,000 people per day.
Depending on the recovery trend of overseas travel demand, the corporation will also promote the expansion of testing center facilities and reinforcement of personnel. Through this, it plans to secure at least 20% more COVID-19 testing capacity at Incheon Airport compared to the number of international departing passengers.
The operation of the Terminal 1 COVID-19 testing center will be handled by Ewha Medical Foundation (east side) and Myongji Hospital (west side), which were selected as the final operators in the proposal evaluation held in May. For passenger convenience, both east and west testing centers will operate with the same hours, testing methods, and prices.
Additionally, the corporation plans to introduce a customized mobile application service for testing center users in conjunction with the opening of the Terminal 1 COVID-19 testing center. By using the app, which the corporation is developing in cooperation with KT and the medical institutions operating the testing centers, users will be able to make reservations, check-in, and pay online, as well as receive digital negative test certificates after testing.
In December last year, the corporation opened the first COVID-19 testing center at a domestic airport in Terminal 2 of Incheon Airport, and so far, over 25,000 passengers have used the testing center.
The Terminal 2 testing center, operated by Inha University Hospital, offers antibody tests, antigen tests, and rapid PCR (LAMP) tests. It is evaluated as contributing to passenger convenience by allowing passengers to complete COVID-19 testing and receive negative certificates at Incheon Airport before departing abroad in one place.
Kim Kyung-wook, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, said, "With the opening of the Terminal 1 testing center, we plan to proactively expand COVID-19 testing capacity and introduce a customized app to respond promptly during the recovery period of air travel demand."
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