The airport’s Covid testing area, that has been in place for two-and- a-half years, started coming down this week.
Head of passenger operations and aviation security Steve Langlois said airport staff and passengers would be glad to see the end of the temporary structure.
‘It perhaps signifies the end of the pandemic and a chance for the airport to get back to normal passenger numbers,’ he said.
‘It was a great collaborate effort to put it up, but thankfully we are finally taking them down.
‘Now it’s time to look forward to the future.’
The structure is coming down as Health & Social Care is now confident the facility will not be needed for future testing.
Testing for new arrivals stopped exactly a year ago, on 16 February, when Guernsey became the first place in the British Isles to end all formal Covid-19 restrictions, and the area has remained empty ever since.
The 35-metre long wooden structure that dominated the arrivals area in the main hall will slowly be removed over the next few months.
Islanders returning to the airport will have already noticed the difference as the part of the structure outside the doors from the baggage carousel was removed on Tuesday night.
‘There is not a fixed timetable for its removal,’ Mr Langlois said.
‘The rest will come down in quiet periods so as not to disturb customers, but it should all be gone well before the summer. This is HSC’s decision, as they funded the initial build and they will be funding the removal. Everyone appreciates it was there for a reason, it was a necessary facility and a key part of the island's Covid infrastructure, but it’s been restrictive for us to have it in the area.’
Mr Langlois confirmed that the queue to enter security, which currently goes through the cubicles, will remain in the same area, even when the structure is removed.
‘It’s worked so well we will keep it this side,’ he said.
‘There is a better flow from passengers who are checking in.’
The removal of the Covid testing area will also make the landside shop visible.
Mr Langlois said there is currently no timetable for this to reopen, and that the airport was in discussions with the current concession holder.
Official figures released on Tuesday showed there were 65 active cases of Covid-19 in the Bailiwick, a slight increase of four cases from last week. There are fewer than five patients currently in hospital with a recent Covid diagnosis.
Islanders are still asked to report any positive Covid cases online at www.gov.gg/covidnotification.
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