Covid-19 Rapid Testing Requirement is Implemented at Quito International Airport

 On May 18, the rapid tests for Covid-19 began at the Quito International Airport. This new procedure, arranged by the National Emergency Operations Committee (COE in Spanish) determined for the arrival of all passengers entering the country on international repatriation flights, is carried out by personnel from the Ministry of Public Health with the support of officials of the Ministry of Foreign Relations.  

In order to maintain an orderly process at Quito Airport, Corporación Quiport has installed 10 temporary testing stations for the sampling of passengers. The first passengers to land in Quito with this new requirement arrived on an Aeromexico charter flight from Mexico City and the testing process for the 120 passengers was carried out smoothly.

Andrew O’Brian, president and CEO of Corporación Quiport, recalled that since the beginning of the pandemic there has been collaborative work between the Government, the Municipality and Quiport as administrator and operator of the country's main airport.

“We fully understand that our role is to implement the sanitary measures and controls ordered by the COE and provide the facilities within our reach so that they can be carried out in an orderly and safe manner. Once the COE ordered the application of Covid-19 rapid tests for repatriated citizens to Ecuador, we adapted and equipped an area for health personnel to take samples and in a safe, efficient and comfortable manner for the passenger”, explained Andrew O'Brian.

Sandro Ruiz, manager of the Metropolitan Public Airport Services Co., stated, “The Airport Services Company is willing to collaborate with the resolutions issued by the national COE, proof of this is the correct and orderly compliance with the defined protocols to protect the well being of all. The success of these procedures is thanks to a coordinated action between the Municipality and Quiport, our concessionaire, together with the airport entities”.

Meanwhile, the installation of the equipment and signage required within the plan for the resumption of commercial passenger air transport continues. Quito airport will be ready for the resumption of flights on June 1, pending the approval of the national COE.