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YUL passengers to be offered rapid screening tests

ADM Aéroports de Montréal and Biron Health Group Inc. today announced plans to launch a pilot project to test a new rapid screening process for COVID-19 on departures from YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport to destinations requiring a negative result medical certificate for admission. These antigenic tests, explains Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), will make it possible to perform certified and rapid tests within 15 minutes.

The pilot project is scheduled to start on December 15 and will last for an initial period of eight weeks. The test, approved by Health Canada and recognized in France, uses a nasal swab and will be offered to pre-approved passengers by reservation only at a cost of $149.

ADM states the new service will initially be offered by reservation to travellers whose final destination is metropolitan France and who are taking a flight served by Air Canada, the initial partner of the project, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines or Air Transat. Other destinations could be added to the pilot project. The screening will be carried out by Biron Health in an area set aside for this purpose on the departures level of the airport terminal.

“We warmly applaud this initiative, which supports our joint efforts to boost tourism by enabling us to develop effective and safe solutions that we hope will help ease the travel restrictions currently in place.” said Annick Guérard, Chief Operating Officer of Transat.

ADM explains it is also in discussions to eventually offer the same type of tests to arriving passengers as those now being conducted by Alberta and federal public health agencies at Calgary’s airport. These tests are airport designed to reduce the 14-day quarantine period imposed on travellers entering Canada.

“The pilot screening test project improves the procedures already in place and represents a decisive step in ensuring the safest possible travel for passengers,” said Philippe Rainville, CEO of ADM Aéroports de Montréal.

ADM states its pilot project with Biron Health is consistent with the recommendations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and respects the guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

“We proactively entered into an agreement with Biron Health Group early on so that travelers could obtain their test results quickly to meet the requirements of their destination country,” said Catherine Guillemart-Dias, Vice-President and General Manager of Air France KLM Canada. “This new initiative offered right at the airport in Montreal is in line with our efforts to ensure travel in all serenity.”