As the era of COVID-safe travel dawns, testing is likely to be a key factor in the safe resumption of international travel.
The implementation of rapid, accurate, affordable, easy-to-operate, scalable and systematic COVID testing for all passengers before departure, as an alternative to quarantine measures, may well be in order to re-establish global air connectivity.
Whilst Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests, which take several hours to process in a lab, have become the accepted norm, there are antigen tests that can be processed on-site and typically give results within about 15 minutes.
International travel is down 92% on 2019 levels. Some governments have cautiously re-opened their borders since then, but there has been limited uptake; this has been because either quarantine measures are making travel impractical, or the frequent changes in COVID-19 measures are making planning a trip impossible.
Testing Before Departing, Not On Arrival
At a recent press briefing, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) CEO, Alexandre de Junaic, said that rapid testing needs to be seamlessly integrated into the departure process.
“[We] firmly believe that testing must be done before departure. This seals-off the system. In addition to giving governments the confidence to re-open borders, this approach will also boost passenger confidence knowing that everybody on the aircraft has been tested.”
Alexandre de Junaic, CEO, IATA
COVID testing before departure is the preferred option, as it will create a “clean” environment throughout the travel process. Testing on arrival dents passenger confidence, with the very real potential for a quarantine at a destination in the event of a positive result.
The IATA does not see COVID-19 testing becoming a permanent fixture in the air travel experience, but it will likely be needed in the medium-term for air travel to re-establish itself.
“Many see the development of a vaccine as the panacea for the pandemic. It will certainly be an important step, but even after an effective vaccine is globally recognized, ramping up production and distribution is likely to take many months. Testing will be a much-needed interim solution.”
Alexandre de Junaic, CEO, IATA
Public Backing
The IATA’s public opinion research has revealed strong support for COVID-19 testing in the travel process. Some 65% of 4700 travellers surveyed agreed that quarantine should not be required if a person tests negative for COVID-19.
Passenger support for testing is evident in the following survey results:
- 84% agreed that testing should be required of all travellers
- 88% agreed that they are willing to undergo testing as part of the travel process
Existing Trials
Lufthansa plans to start making rapid COVID-19 antigen tests available to passengers in October, according to Reuters. Interestingly, the airline is also weighing-up the option of opening test centres at airports in the United States and Canada; indicating the potential for testing at both departure points.
Airlines such as Alitalia have already begun experimenting with COVID-free flights, requiring a test before departure and boosting passenger peace-of-mind.
Once again we are faced with unwarranted fear supplied by the media. this is just one more of our freedoms being taken away for no good reason. Welcome to socialism people. This is the response we get from those who want to rule our everyday lives. The sheep will have no issues with these ridiculous “rules” and we all will pay the price of less freedom.
Sad that so many are falling for this scamdemic and interfering with air travel and commerce in general. The unnecessary lockdowns have caused far more suffering and death than the Covid-19 virus. According to the U.S. CDC (Center for Disease Control) website, the following survival rates are measured for those who actual contract the disease:
0-19 years of age: 99.997
20-49: 99:98%
50-69: 99.5 %
70+: 94.6%
Not only the death rates for seasonal flu higher (and SARS was much higher, but prompted no lockdown), but so is tuberculosis, which still kills about 1.6 million people annually, much more than Covid-19. But far more people are dying from suicide, drug overdoses, starvation, cancer, and other problems because of the lock down. When more countries come to their senses I’ll be traveling on airlines that haven’t been pushing this scam and requiring passengers to essentially wear hazmat suits. Qatar, I won’t be traveling with you until you come to your senses.
So sad 😭😭
This all seems fine I guess but even setting aside privacy rights, religious rights associated with medical procedures, etc. etc. Antigen testing is between 84% and 97% accurate when testing for “negative” to Covid. It has a higher inaccuracy around false-positives. So say it’s 99% accurate. That means for 1 out of over 100 passengers on average you will have someone that could be infected with Covid-19. It’s not a sure bet. This doesn’t even account for the crap show that doing this at airports would be. Just look at security checkpoints or gate agents that are dis-organized and that will show you hints of how well all this would work in the real world. My gut feeling is that most business travel is effected by companies that are suffering financially, don’t want to spend money on travel. They have seen how to work remotely and have meetings via zoom. Don’t want to be liable for travel illness to employees and the impact on workers compensation claims. Leisure travelers mostly don’t want to “risk their life” for a vacation flight, don’t want to wear a mask for hours on a plane with limited service. When you add layers of extra stuff to all this it might make it safer to fly in relation to Covid-19 exposure but makes it the least desirable option. This doesn’t even take into consideration how a person could get on a plane with a negative Antigen test. Fly to a destination and then not be allowed on the connecting flight or able to return home when they test (or falsely test) positive. Too much risk of the unknown = Less business for airlines.