American Airlines is providing optional at-home coronavirus tests to people traveling to Hawaii and selected Caribbean destinations. The tests will be offered to passengers flying to St Lucia, Grenada, Belize, and Hawaii from November 16.
In this process, passengers will get a PCR testing kit to their homes. A health worker will observe the COVID-19 test via an online video, and then talk them through all the steps. Once completed, the passenger will send their sample. This will be processed at LetsGetChecked lab, an FDA-approved laboratory. Results will be delivered to the individual via phone within 48 hours.
Presently, all of the four destinations require all passengers to get a recent negative coronavirus test result before they enter the territory. In St Lucia’s case, passengers should present negative results right before they board the plane.
Those who failed to get a negative test must quarantine for exactly two weeks once they arrive at the destination. With the help of this at-home test, passengers can enjoy all the convenience and safety of doing it at their houses, rather than doing a pre-flight test.
In addition to this, American Airlines is expanding its own preflight COVID-19 testing program in the United States’ airports. Starting this week, any person traveling to Hawaii from Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Orlando can get tested in the airport right before heading to Aloha State.
According to the President of American Airlines, Robert Isom, the initial preflight testing they performed did well and had amazing customer feedback. The following phase is a crucial step forward in the airline’s relentless pursuit of finally reopening international travel. This can also contribute to the recovery of the industry while offering positive, safe travel experiences.
American Airlines isn’t the only company trying to expand its own coronavirus testing capacities. United also announced its initiative to launch its own plot testing program, providing free coronavirus tests to the crew and passengers on board selected flights from NY to London. Meanwhile, Emirates now offers on-site COVID-19 rapid tests at Dubai’s Airport. Lufthansa is developing its own antigen tests to restore the confidence of their potential passengers. Etihad Airways is now including tests in all of its tickets for passengers coming from Abu Dhabi.
How will COVID-19 change the aviation industry and the way we fly?
From cabin layouts to airfares, things may look and experience different once we begin traveling again. Fewer routes, higher fares, less free food, and preflight health checks: coronavirus is starting a new age of air travel.
As the big shift is underway, the world’s airlines reevaluate their operations and management on how they would look after the crisis. At empty airports, social distancing and mask-wearing already demonstrated a huge behavioral change among the few travelers and staff left. The main concern here is that potential flyers will be put off by all the health-related rules that differ from nation to nation.
As per Dirk-Maarten Molenaar, BCG travel and tourism head, the shift must be secure and quick – something that’s considered a minor burden. Get more articles such as this on Quikmaps website.
