Singapore Airlines customers departing from the UK will be able to book their pre-departure Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test via a dedicated online booking portal  operated by Collinson, a global leader in the provision of traveller experiences, including medical assistance.

The move sees the UK become the fourth Singapore Airlines market to benefit from accessing 36-hour turn-around pre-departure tests, as part of an ongoing pilot in partnership with Collinson for customers based in Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong.

With pre-departure testing now a mandatory and frequently evolving requirement for many countries, this new service makes it easier for Singapore Airlines’ UK customers to obtain and demonstrate the correct testing documentation required for their travel journey.

Customers will be directed to book their pre-departure test securely and seamlessly via Collinson’s portal after making their flight bookings. Collinson is the leading private sector testing provider in the UK, with dedicated and accredited medical facilities located across six major airports, including London Heathrow, Manchester, Luton, Stansted, London City and East Midlands. In addition, a testing facility is available at the 02 Arena. Tests are priced at £99 for the RT-PCR swab test.

Within 36 hours, customers will receive their test results through the same secure portal, which will then generate a digital certificate and a QR code that is to be presented to airport staff upon check-in. Passengers are also able to print out their results to present to airport staff.

The link for customers to access the portal will be featured across the Singapore Airlines website and mobile app, as well as being included in customers’ booking confirmation and pre-departure emails. 

Singapore Airlines GM for the UK & Ireland Mohamed Rafi Mar,commented: “Expanding the one-stop pre-departure testing portal to our UK-based customers is part of our ongoing efforts to provide passengers with a vital service during this time. By housing all necessary pre-departure information on one platform, our passengers can enjoy a much more streamlined and seamless booking and pre-flight experience with Singapore Airlines”.

Collinson’s president for Asia Pacific, Todd Handcock, added: “Testing remains crucial to reopening global borders, restoring confidence in travellers and getting the world travelling safely again. This new pre-departure testing service for Singapore Airlines’ UK passengers is an extension of our partnership, which saw the service launch in Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong in recent months.” 

He continued: “Our goal is to provide airlines with the support they need to help passengers test with ease and reach their destination as easily and safely as possible. The travel industry is inextricably linked to economic progression and we are dedicated to helping the industry get back on its feet. Continuing to implement robust testing protocols is key to long-term stability.”

Leveraging the pre-departure testing solution managed by Collinson, Singapore Airlines was recently announced as the first airline in the world to partner with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to pilot the IATA Travel Pass app, which aims to provide Covid-19 status and vaccination information as part of an overall digital health verification process to further facilitate future international travel. 

In February, Singapore Airlines announced that it and its fellow carriers within the SIA group, Scoot and Silkair, had operated flights with fully vaccinated pilots and cabin crew. The airlines were among the first in the world to operate flights with a full set of vaccinated personnel.