Grupo Aeroporturio del Pacifico (GAP), the operators of the Guadalajara International Airport and 13 others in western Mexico, reacted swiftly to the recent travel requirements introduced for everyone flying to the United States and Canada.
With the rules now demanding that all passengers show a negative Covid-19 test (antigen or PCR for U.S., PCR only for Canada) before boarding their flights, GAP has installed testing labs at most of its airports, including Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.
So far, various users of the laboratory set up on the second floor of the parking lot at the Guadalajara Airport have had nothing but praise for the facility. GAP says the results of the antigen test take between 30 to 45 minutes, but some passengers report having received them in even less time.
The lab is open 24 hours a day and the antigen test can be done before one’s flight. However, travelers should allow a minimum of 1.5 hours in addition to the normal flight check-in time, just in case the lines for testing are long. PCR tests must be done ahead of time, as results are delivered within 36 to 48 hours.
For international travelers, the antigen test costs 450 pesos ($US25) and the PCR test 1,450 pesos ($US80). (Costs are also listed for the general public at a higher price.)
The test does not require fasting, and the results are printed in both English and Spanish
GAP says the laboratory’s antigen tests have an accuracy rate of between 94 and 97 percent, and the PCR tests between 98 and 99 percent.