British Airways is introducing a voluntary testing regime for its passengers, in a bid to persuade the UK Government to scrap the 14-day quarantine requirement.
The airline says the pilot programme will offer voluntary testing starting November 25 in partnership with American Airlines for passengers flying to Heathrow from New York, Los Angeles and Dallas.
Passengers will be tested 72 hours before departure, on arrival at Heathrow and again three days after arrival. British Airways says its goal is to show that a single test 72 hours before takeoff is enough to ensure travellers aren't carrying Covid-19, allowing authorities to end the quarantine requirement.
The pre-departure test will be conducted at home by travellers, who will self-collect a nasal sample under the supervision of medical professionals by videoconference, the airline said. The second test, which happens on arrival at Heathrow, will be a nasal swab conducted by health workers at the airport. The third test is a saliva sample taken alone by passengers three days after arrival in the UK.
Airlines are calling on the UK government to scrap the 14-day quarantine requirement, which they say is killing the travel industry and slowing economic growth. The quarantine rules apply to anyone traveling to the UK from a country that isn't on the Government's "safe" list, making most business and holiday travel unrealistic. Countries are often added to the list with just a few days' notice, increasing the uncertainty for travelers.
