On Dec. 31, Los Angeles International Airport opened an on-site COVID-19 testing lab that offers test results to travelers in three to five hours.
A growing list of countries require travelers to present negative COVID-19 PCR test results from a certified lab on arrival. The new LAX facility allows passengers to meet those requirements while waiting for their flights.
The rapid testing lab, located in a shipping container near Terminal 6, is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST each day and offers tests by appointment only.
LAX also offers walk-up COVID-19 testing in Terminal 2 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Test results from those facilities take approximately 24 hours.
Tests cost $125 at all three locations.
In an interview with KABC-TV in Los Angeles, the new lab’s acting manager said the facility met “an obvious need” for passengers. LAX is one of the nation’s busiest airports, and many travelers are re-routing their layovers to use its COVID-19 testing services before flying to their final destinations.
LAX is one of 26 U.S. airports currently offering COVID-19 tests. All American-based airlines also provide tests to passengers.
In addition to testing, airlines continue to take safety measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. A recent survey by Airlineratings.com found that Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Jetblue and Southwest Airlines are the most COVID-secure carriers in the U.S.
The survey rated airlines on key COVID-19 safety measures, including website information on COVID-19 policies, face masks for passengers, personal protection equipment for crew, personal sanitizer kits, modified meal service, deep cleaning of aircraft and social distancing during onboarding and flights.
Delta is the only U.S. airline still blocking middle seats for passengers during flights. The airline plans to maintain this social distancing measure until March 2021. Alaska Airlines stopped blocking middle seats on Jan. 7. Southwest stopped the procedure on Dec. 1.