In response to the announcement of the French Minister for Transport on Oct. 15 and at the request of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the implementation of health corridors, Nice Côte d’Azur Airport has organized and established a room dedicated to antigen tests in its Terminal 2. This unprecedented arrangement, made possible through the mobilization of all authorities and partner airlines, represents a full-scale test that aims to be deployed on a wider scale and in the long term in other airports.
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, which has ensured an uninterrupted public service since March 16 and continues to strive to offer the best quality of service, in particular in terms of health protection, will from Oct. 30 at 5am open the first comprehensive technical platform, supervised by health authorities, for organizing antigen tests.
These tests will be offered on a voluntary basis to passengers travelling to French overseas territories via Paris Orly or Paris Charles de Gaulle, or to Rome. They will also be available to all outbound travelers on request. For this experimental phase, agreements have been made with Air France and Alitalia to involve these airlines in the process. This partnership means that we are able to anticipate the number of passengers due to board the above-mentioned flights and optimize the sampling and testing room. This will enable up to six stations to be available at the same time for taking samples, and four for the administrative, registering, and passenger tracking phases. The testing room will be open every day from 5am, and its operations will be modified in accordance with air traffic over the coming weeks.
The implementation of this comprehensive system aims to reassure passengers by combatting the spread of the virus, to facilitate the reopening of borders according to bilateral agreements recognizing the validity of these tests, and to cover their costs through the French health insurance system.
“By working hand in hand with French public services, the city of Nice, the health authorities, the airlines and their ground handling agents, we are creating the optimal conditions to enable the largest number of people to be tested all while maintaining fluid passenger flows and the punctuality of departing flights. We would like to thank the Minister for Transport, his teams and all the partners in this pilot project for having trusted us to implement this experiment, which is set to be deployed on a wider scale,” commented Franck Goldnadel, chairman of the Board for Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur.
Operating procedure
These free tests are offered to passengers departing from Nice Airport, as a priority those travelling to the countries or regions concerned, on direct or stopover flights.
Passengers will be able to turn up to the testing center from four hours and up to 90 minutes before departure, with results being given in about 30 minutes.
Before their arrival at the terminal, passengers will be informed of the system and the associated procedure by their airline. They will also be asked to download and fill in the information form from the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport website.
A continuation of the extensive measures already in effect
The implementation of these antigen tests extends the services provided by the PCR testing room opened in mid-July, under the aegis of the regional health authority, which had already enabled passengers to get tested.
The introduction of this testing service forms part of a comprehensive policy, initiated by the airport on March 16 and which satisfies all the recommendations of the various health authorities.
In line with this policy, disinfection agents have been deployed to supplement the usual cleaning staff. Wearing outfits specially designed for combatting the virus, as already found in hospitals, these agents employ virucidal surface disinfectants that have been in use since the emergence of COVID-19.
Automatic hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed all along routes taken by passengers through the airport, near the self-service check-in terminals for passengers and their luggage, at security checkpoints, etc. This service supplements the reinforced health protection measures in all toilet facilities, which are now equipped with air and surface purifiers. The system uses a unique and patented technology based on purifying UV radiation that does not pose a health risk. By operating continuously, it guarantees that spaces are kept sanitized at all times.
Likewise, the terminal ventilation networks have been upgraded with the high-performance filtration of indoor air. The existing quality of air treatment has been increased by 50% by replacing the F7-type filter models with F9-type filters like those used in hospitals.
