{"id":117716,"date":"2020-09-30T08:17:27","date_gmt":"2020-09-30T12:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=117716"},"modified":"2020-09-30T08:17:27","modified_gmt":"2020-09-30T12:17:27","slug":"american-airlines-aims-to-open-international-markets-with-preflight-covid-19-testing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/american-airlines-aims-to-open-international-markets-with-preflight-covid-19-testing\/","title":{"rendered":"American Airlines aims to open international markets with preflight COVID-19 testing"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div>

As part of an ongoing effort to help protect customer health and safety, inspire confidence in air travel and advance the industry\u2019s recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19<\/a>) pandemic,\u00a0American Airlines<\/a>\u00a0is collaborating with several foreign governments to begin offering preflight COVID-19 testing for customers traveling to international destinations, starting with Jamaica and the Bahamas. The carrier plans to expand the program to additional markets in the weeks and months ahead.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

\u201cThe pandemic has changed our business in ways we never could have expected, but all the while, the entire American Airlines team has eagerly tackled the challenge of reimagining the way we deliver a safe, healthy and enjoyable travel experience for our customers,\u201d said Robert Isom, President of American Airlines. \u201cOur plan for this initial phase of preflight testing reflects the ingenuity and care our team is putting into rebuilding confidence in air travel, and we view this as an important step in our work to accelerate an eventual recovery of demand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jamaica<\/h2>\n

American has reached agreement with Jamaica to launch an initial testing program at its Miami International Airport (MIA) hub next month. The initial phase of testing will be for Jamaican residents traveling to their home country. If a passenger tests negative for COVID-19 ahead of flying with American, the 14-day quarantine currently in place for returning Jamaican residents would be waived. Following a successful pilot program, the objective is to open this testing protocol for all passengers traveling to Jamaica, including U.S. citizens. The timing of such a potential announcement is to be determined.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

\u201cI thank American Airlines for initiating these efforts to ensure safety and confidence for travelers from the United States, and for leading with Jamaica as a pilot for its COVID-19 testing program,\u201d said Audrey Marks, Ambassador of Jamaica to the United States. \u201cThis is timely, given the government\u2019s ongoing review in cooperation with the Global Initiative for Health and Safety group of the current protocols governing travel to the island, and it could be a game-changer, not just for tourism, but also for other key sectors of the economy that have been negatively impacted by the ongoing pandemic.\u201d<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

The Bahamas and CARICOM<\/h2>\n

American also has started working with the Bahamas and CARICOM to launch similar testing programs that would allow travel to the region. American\u2019s next international program will be with the Bahamas and is expected to launch next month. Details on the protocols for that country will follow.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are so pleased that American Airlines has included The Bahamas in their preflight testing program and for their continued commitment to mitigating the spread of coronavirus,\u201d said Dionisio D\u2019Aguilar, Minister of Tourism and Aviation for the Bahamas. \u201cMiami is a major gateway to our islands, and we believe predeparture testing will create important efficiencies, while ensuring the health and safety of both our visitors and residents.\u201d<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

As its initial preflight testing programs begin to launch, American is also actively engaged with CARICOM, an integrated grouping of 20 Caribbean countries, about expanding the program to additional Caribbean markets.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are pleased that American Airlines has taken the lead to initiate this exciting COVID-19 predeparture testing program,\u201d said Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Chairman of CARICOM. \u201cThe Caribbean Community welcomes this important progress to re-open markets with the health and safety of our citizens being of paramount importance, and we\u2019ll be monitoring this program very closely as it ramps up in our region.\u201d<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

Preflight testing for travel to Hawaii<\/h2>\n

In addition to its efforts in opening international markets to travel, American has been working with the government of Hawaii to develop a series of options that fit the Hawaiian requirements for travel to the state. Starting Oct. 15, the airline will begin a preflight COVID-19 testing program at its Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) hub for customers traveling to Hawaii, in partnership with\u00a0LetsGetChecked<\/a>,\u00a0CareNow<\/a>\u00a0and the DFW Airport.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n

Around The Web<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Beginning next month, American will offer three options for preflight testing to customers with flights from DFW to Honolulu (HNL) and Maui (OGG):<\/p>\n