Lufthansa to offer COVID testing at Frankfurt, Munich

Credit: Frankfurt Airport

Lufthansa has teamed up with two medical companies to offer COVID-19 testing at its Frankfurt and Munich hubs, which may avoid 14-day quarantine requirements.

On June 30, Lufthansa announced that it had formed partnerships with two medical companies—CENTOGENE at Frankfurt Airport and MediCare at Munich Airport—to offer COVID-19 testing.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which has been certified by Germany and Austria’s health authorities, looks for evidence of whether a person is currently infected by COVID-19 using a throat-swab sample.

covid testing
Credit: Frankfurt Airport

“These test centers offer our customers the opportunity to avoid being quarantined, when arriving in Germany and Austria, with a negative corona test in their hand,” Lufthansa Group senior director for ground & digital services product management Björn Becker said.

“Results are usually available within four to five hours after testing and are linked to the customer’s flight ticket. This also makes it easier for them to travel safely to other countries worldwide that accept a certified PCR corona test, as well to avoid quarantine.”

Passengers arriving into Germany and Austria are currently subject to a 14-day quarantine, if they are arriving from certain countries.

Both facilities recommend registering for the tests in advance.

The Frankfurt Terminal 1 facility suggests passengers should take the test 24 hours before a departing flight, or immediately upon arrival. It has the capacity to evaluate up to 380 tests per hour, in an on-site lab, with results delivered via a mobile phone app.

In Munich, tests are available at the MediCare clinic, located in Terminal 1.

Munich Terminal 1 was closed because of COVID-19, but terminal areas C, D, and E will reopen on July 8, with mandatory face-covering rules.

“Most of the airlines that operated from Terminal 1 before the terminal building was closed will return here from July 8. Only Eurowings, Qatar Airways, TUI fly, SunExpress, and Pegasus Airlines will remain in Terminal 2 for the time being,” Munich Airport said.

Victoria Moores

Victoria Moores joined Air Transport World as our London-based European Editor/Bureau Chief on 18 June 2012. Victoria has nearly 20 years’ aviation industry experience, spanning airline ground operations, analytical, journalism and communications roles.