From mid-November, United Airlines will operate flights between New York and London where all passengers and crew members have tested negative for the coronavirus. The airline wants to demonstrate the importance of such tests for the travel industry.
All passengers over the age of two intending to travel on flight UA14 from Newark to London Heathrow must be covid tested no later than three hours prior to departure between November 16th and December 11th. Anyone who tests positive is not allowed on board. The flight between New York and London has been chosen because it is one of the most important intercontinental routes. Before the corona crisis broke out, United flew on the route six times a day. Travelers do not have to be quarantined due to the fast test upon arrival in London.
“We believe such rapid tests can play a vital role in reopening countries quickly,”
-Toby Enqvist, Chief Customer Officer at United Airlines.
The US carrier previously started offering fast tests on flights from San Francisco to Hawaii. This way travelers who test negative bypass the mandatory quarantine after arrival on the archipelago. According to United, the measure resulted in an increase of 95 percent in the number of tickets booked.