Having reestablished international operations on 21 September, Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport, which is operated by OPAIN, has now been certified with the national government’s seal “Certified Check-in, COVID-19 biosafe in addition to the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Health Accreditation programme.
The use of technology, a lab for quick testing and thermal corridors are just some of the measures taken by the airport in line with the Colombian Ministry of Health’s stipulated biosecurity parameters to protect and generate confidence among passengers.
“The work done is a guarantee of OPAIN’s commitment to the airport community and all travellers,” stated Andres Ortega, General Manager of OPAIN. “We will continue innovating so that El Dorado prevails to be at the forefront of biosecurity,” he continued.
Passengers arriving or leaving Colombia are required to fill out a form called Check-mig, present a negative PCR test and wear a face mask at all times.
Meanwhile, the El Dorado Airpor app facilitates the passenger flow thanks to functionalities such as location, capacity control and flight information. Passengers can check in through the airlines’ apps, the check-in counters, and the self-check-in modules available at the terminal. The terminal has 17 thermal corridors, thermographic cameras for automatic verification of body temperature, as well as ultraviolet disinfection of baggage trays at security control points.
In addition the airport has set up a lab that can deliver results in two hours for molecular POCT, fast antigen, and IgG antibody tests. The processing of isothermal PCR tests (which deliver results in 24 hours) has also been enabled.
More than 12 cities have resumed air connections with Bogota, with American Airlines, Delta, Spirit, United Airlines, Aeromexico, Wingo and Avianca now flying back again to El Dorado from countries including the US, Bolivia, Brazil, Domican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Peru.
“Colombia is moving forward in terms of air connectivity. In a coordinated manner and under strict biosafety protocols, airlines are flying back to and from Bogota, one of the most important cities in the region for international air activity,” said Flavia Santoro, President of the government agency, ProColombia.
