BENGALURU: The scrapping of mandatory pre-departure Covid-19 test has come as a big relief for UAE-bound passengers. There were several complaints of them being denied to board flights and losing ticket money because of alleged testing malpractice at a private lab outside Bengaluru airport.
A Covid-negative report not older than 48 hours is the only requirement now for travelling to the UAE.
Many people have started rescheduling their tickets to the UAE. Rajajinagar resident Hari Mallabadi has been campaigning online for removal of pre-departure testing and alleged malpractices at the lab at Kempegowda International Airport.
On January 29, Hari was given a positive report at the airport and forced to cancel his trip to Dubai, where he was scheduled to attend the Dubai Expo. He along with a few other flyers raised suspicion about the test, alleging malpractice by the lab, possibly in an attempt make passengers retake the test for an additional Rs 3,000. He and the rest of the affected passengers had to face threats from police for their protest.
Hari is now planning his trip once again. “It is great news that UAE has done away with the pre-departure test because of which passengers were forced to come to the airport as much as six hours prior to departure and lab technicians were trying to fleece them. Now I’m planning to fly to Dubai on March 3 and can do so with no tension,” the businessman said.
Mohammed, a Cox Town resident, said he also was harassed by airport police after he protested against a positive report issued by the lab for his relatives, who had tested negative at a private lab just hours earlier.
“I was taken to KIA police station and kept there for a few hours before being let off with a warning,” lamented the youngster.
Some desperate passengers are said to have chosen alternative ports such as Kochi and Mumbai instead of Bengaluru to fly to the UAE.
