Exciting Progress Being Made on COVID-19 Testing by Airlines

American Airlines, British Airways and oneworld^® have launched a COVID-19 testing trial program on select flights from airports in the United States to Heathrow airport in London, as an effort to demonstrate how reliable, readily-available COVID-19 testing can help expedite the  reopening of international travel.

 

Beginning November 25, the free tests will be offered to eligible customers booked on American Airlines flight AA50 departing Dallas/Fort Worth; British Airways flight BA114 departing New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport; and British Airways flight BA268 from Los Angeles. The test will be expanded to American Airlines flight AA106 from John F. Kennedy Airport at a later date.

 

How It Will Work

 

Passengers who volunteer to participate in the trial will take three COVID-19 tests in conjunction with their travel journey.

 

The first test will be taken 72 hours before departure from the U.S. using a convenient at-home RT-PCR test provided by LetsGetChecked. The traveler will self-collect a nasal sample under the supervision of a medical professional via a virtual visit. Then, upon landing at Heathrow, the traveler will take a second test, called a LAMP test, at the airport. The LAMP test, provided by Collinson, involves the collection of a nasal sample by a medical professional. Finally, a test kit for the third and final test – to be taken three days after arrival in the United Kingdom – will be given to the traveler to complete at home through self-collection of a saliva sample.

 

The three-test approach aims to validate a customer’s negative status for COVID-19 throughout the travel journey, removing the need for the participant to quarantine upon arrival.

 

For more information on this program, click here.