American Airlines will start preflight COVID-19 testing, including on trips from DFW International Airport to Hawaii, as the carrier tries to boost travel to foreign destinations and U.S. states with travel restrictions.
Fort Worth-based American said it has been working with the Hawaiian government on a series of options to let passengers travel to the island state without a 14-day quarantine, including on-site rapid testing at DFW International Airport. There are also options to have testing done through an at-home kit and at local CareNow urgent care centers.
American will also start testing at Miami International Airport in October for flights to Jamaica, starting with Jamaican residents to help them avoid a 14-day quarantine after returning to the country. The program could extend to the Bahamas and other Caribbean countries soon after.
“The 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,” said a statement from Robert Isom, president of American Airlines. “Our 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.”
All testing must be done with 72 hours of the flight to Hawaii, and only people who test negative will be able to avoid quarantine.
Hawaii is lifting its 14-day quarantine on Oct. 15, but only for people who can show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of a flight.
United Airlines will start a similar testing program at San Francisco International Airport for flights to Hawaii.
Airlines have struggled to find solutions to the growing number of travel restrictions to international destinations and even within the United States.
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut also have quarantine requirements for travelers from dozens of states, including Texas, and it’s still difficult for Americans to travel to European Union countries.
