The ExpressTest site in Heathrow N4 car park has 24 lanes for drive-through testing and will be open year-round.

ExpressTest, which operates similar facilities at Gatwick and other UK airports, claims the facility at Heathrow is the country’s largest.

It will eventually have two on-site laboratories, which will be able to process in excess of 5,000 tests a day.

PCR tests cost £80 for Heathrow passengers, £60 for Heathrow staff, and £99 for the general public. Results are typically returned the following day.

Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: “We’re delighted to host this site, which will help our passengers to get away safely in time for the festive season.

“Testing is crucial to the UK’s recovery from this pandemic, and we look forward to working with ExpressTest, Government and our airlines to better understand how pre-departure testing could be used to eradicate the need to quarantine on arrival.”