British Airways and American Airlines start transatlantic Covid tests
18 November, 2020
British Airways and American Airlines are partnering to provide coronavirus tests to passengers flying over the Atlantic.
In a bid to confirm that Covid-19 testing works well enough to eliminate quarantine policies for travellers, the airlines will offer you free tests to passengers on select USA to London Heathrow flights.
Trials get started on Wednesday, November 25 for eligible travellers flying American Airlines from Dallas Fort Worthy of and British Airways travellers departing Los Angeles or New York's JFK for London Heathrow.
Leader of British Airways Sean Doyle said, “We realize people want to visit but our skies remain all but closed and the UK is being left behind. Main economies like Germany will be adopting testing to displace quarantine.
“We are in need of the UK Government to introduce something that allows travellers to have reliable, affordable lab tests before departure, so they happen to be confident that fellow passengers are Covid-free. For persons arriving from countries with huge infection rates, an additional test out on arrival should in that case launch them from quarantine."
Current UK travel restrictions imply that, unless arriving from a destination about the country's flights corridor list, overseas travellers need to self-isolate for 14 days, whether or not they have a poor Covid-19 test.
Travellers booked to visit on participating flights found in the trial will get contacted by the airlines before their departure time.
Those that opt in will take an at-residence PCR test 72 hours before departing the US, under the supervision of doctors with a virtual visit.
After landing in London, travellers will need another test at the airport. The LAMP test, provided by Collinson, will see medical professionals take a nasal sample from travellers.
Following the test is completed, a test kit for a third and final test will be furnished to passengers. That is conducted three days later on via an at-residence saliva sample.
The three-test approach aims to show each traveller's negative status for Covid-19 throughout their journey. The ultimate test - made to confirm the unfavorable results of the primary two tests - is roofed for the airlines showing that one or two tests would be enough to allow happen to be restart without quarantine intervals.
A task force, made up of oneworld airline alliance representatives and independent medical experts, is overseeing the trial and outcomes will be distributed to governments in the US and the UK.
BA and American have confirmed that the exams being used within the trial will not effects the UK's National Health Service testing capacity.
Source: www.thenationalnews.com
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