Alitalis NY General Manager Gaetano Messina ( far right) with the crew of the first Covid Free flight out of JFK
AIRPORT VOICE, DECEMBER 2020 13
One World
Travel Pilot
BA & AA Covid testing
American Airlines, British
Airways and OneWorld®
are partnering with LetsGet-
Checked (LGC) and Collinson
Assistance Services Limited
(Collinson) to launch a free
COVID-19 testing program
on select flights from the U.S.
to London Heathrow Airport
(LHR). Those who join this
trial program will help show
that testing programs are an
effective way to fly safely between
our countries and reopen
transatlantic air travel.
This is a pilot program to
demonstrate to the public and
to the government that safe
travel can be made between
the two countries. It is a point
to point with BA flights from
JFK and LAX and AA from
Dulles.
British will be sending out
invitations to be part of the
program. If accepted, the traveler
will be send a home test
kit which must be returned
via courier to BA. Upon arrival
at Heathrow a rapid test
will be given at the airport.
After three days another Covid
test will be sent out to determine
stat of health and
complete the program.
The traveler is still restricted
to quarantine.
According to British Airways
VP of NY Airports Daljit
Hayre , this is an important
trial program. It gives the
traveler: a free Covid test for
general personal purposes, it
instills a level of confidence,
sense of trust and comfort
knowing that their flight is
tested negative for Covid. It
also sets a stage where other
airlines can do the same thing
and provide results to show
evidence to their governments
so as to reduce the quarantine
( which IATA is supporting)
and eventually reduce restrictions
with Covid testing and
open the skies to more tourist
and business flying.
Incentives for the participation
in this trial can an include
a travel voucher and
points.
Participation will be restricted
to those who are eligible
to travel to England and
who will be contacted by the
respective airlines for this pilot.
The rest began on November
2th and is expected to run
several weeks.
Those who join this trial
program will help show that
testing programs are an effective
way to fly safely between
our countries and re-open
transatlantic air travel. It is
a way for the public to participate
in safer and healthy flying.
Daljit Hayre with the unique hand sanitizer which remotely informs the
maintenance when in need of refilling. Photo buy Jeff Yapalater
Buongiorno Italy!
Alitalia Covid-Free
Flights to FCO
Now through February 15, Alitalia
passengers from JFK Airport
to Rome FCO can experience Covid-
Free Flying and avoid Italian Quarantine.
Alitalia, working wit the Italian
government, has a program which
allows for Italian citizens, dual passport
holders, business travel, essential
and emergency travel from the
JFK Airport to Rome to avoid quarantine
when landing in Rome during
this pilot program.
By following specific rules, a traveler
can cut the quarantine in Italy
entirely and reduce the New York
State quarantine from 14 days to 4
days. A letter of certification of Negative
Covid results for travelers can
be obtained at Terminal One or Terminal
4 at JFK Airport to receive a
boarding pass.
A traveler must test negative for
Covid 48 hours before the flight. If
negative result the passenger can
fly, then test again after landing in
Rome. If negative again, they will be
free of the 14 day Quarantine there.
.However if the test proves positive
in Rome, then the quarantine is in
place. The first Covid Free flight
from FCO was December 10th.
According to a manager at Alitalia
this will build confidence in
the international traveler and make
it easier to visit family and conduct
business in Italy. If a passenger tests
positive and is not boarded they can
request a voucher or refund valid for
18 months. See the Alitalia website
for specific and/or changing offers.