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– We see that passenger numbers increase over the autumn and that there are still strict requirements for testing. Then it is important for us to facilitate that health and police can still perform testing and border control in a good way, says acting airport director Ole Petter Storstad at Oslo Airport.
At the beginning of July, Norway partially opened its borders to Europe. Since then, traffic has increased sharply at Gardermoen.
There have been long queues and congestion.
Last Friday, there was a long queue at the border control at Oslo Airport.
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The problem has been greatest for passengers from abroad who have to test themselves on arrival.
The testing takes place today in the hall where you usually only have to pick up your luggage. When there is also testing and queues for testing here, it has become a big space problem.
At times, people have been queuing for over two hours before taking a quick test.
At the end of last week, immediate measures were introduced.
Now the airport owner Avinor has landed on a long-term solution to the problem.
Moves the testing
They have looked at all the nooks and crannies of the airport to find appropriate areas where passengers from abroad can be tested.
It is also considered to set up tents outside the terminal building, but the conclusion is that it is most appropriate for the testing to take place indoors.
– It has been important to find premises where the test stations get good framework conditions, says Storstad.
The test center will therefore be moved out of the luggage hall. The new center will be located on the floor above, on the same level as the departure hall. The area has previously been used for check-in, but is now vacant.
Acting Airport Director at Oslo Airport, Ole Petter Storstad, shows the premises where the new test center for passengers from abroad will be located.
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– We believe the measure will improve the total flow, says the acting airport manager at OSL.
He also hopes that the new areas will make it easier to take care of infection control in a good way.
But he adds:
– There is no golden solution to this challenge. It is important to be clear, says acting airport director Ole Petter Storstad at OSL.
Longer way to go
Passengers coming from abroad will notice that the test center is being relocated.
While today they test themselves where they pick up their luggage, it will be a longer way to go.
After the passengers have passed the border control and picked up their luggage, they will go out through customs and be guided on to the new test center.
SE VIDEO:
When you come from abroad, you must go here to test yourself at Oslo Airport.
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– It will probably be a few more meters to walk, but there is an elevator, escalator and stairs up to the new test station, says Storstad.
He states that personnel must ensure that those who are not to be tested are separated.
Will queues and congestion be gone?
– It would have been very nice and said a clear yes to it. We hope that queues and congestion will decrease, but there will still be queues related to both testing and border control in the time ahead.
Provides better test capacity
Ullensaker municipality is responsible for corona testing at Oslo Airport. Dr. Dropin carries out the actual testing.
In the last week, the number of test stations for passengers from abroad has increased from 11 to 17.
In total, it can be tested approx. 500 passengers from abroad per hour.
Relocation of the test center will provide an opportunity to expand the test capacity. But it is not yet known how much.
Will take time
The relocation of the test center at Oslo Airport has not been done in a jiffy. The area to be used must be rebuilt.
The new test center will be located in an area of the airport that was previously used for check-in.
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It will take weeks before the center is in place.
– We start the work, but it must be expected that it will take a few weeks before it is ready for use, says acting airport director Ole Petter Storstad.
Until further notice, the testing will continue to take place in the luggage hall as today.
The immediate measure that was introduced last weekend, that travelers from green countries can skip testing at Gardermoen, still applies.
In addition, Ullensaker municipality is working to move the testing of arriving passengers who are going to quarantine hotels, out of the current baggage hall.
The municipality can not answer when this is in place.
– A major change like this requires extensive planning, logistics and staffing. It is not possible to say exactly when everything is ready. We want to get it done as quickly as possible, and the planning is in full swing, says Elisabeth Grøtli Nordal, unit manager in Ullensaker municipality.
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