United has operated its first flight between New York’s Newark Liberty International Airport and London Heathrow on which all passengers and crew were offered a free, rapid Covid test.
United flight UA14, arriving in London this morning, had around 50 passengers on board, including United’s managing director for operations policy & support, Aaron McMillan.
McMillan said, “[Today’s flight] is a really big milestone in what we feel is an important part of the overall recovery as part of broader worldwide economy.
“We really see predeparture testing as a recipe for success that governments could use to start to relax blanket entry restrictions and quarantine by allowing people to travel more safely,” he said.
The airline is offering the tests to all passengers on UA14, departing at 7:15pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, for the next four weeks
The airline is offering free of charge Abbott ID Now Covid-19 tests at a facility located at the Newark United Club near the airport's gate C93. Passengers booking these flights have the option to confirm their willingness to participate in the trial or be accommodated on another flight.
A negative test does not mean passengers avoid the 14-day quarantine requirement on arrival in the UK.
McMillan said one passenger of those who were booked to travel on the flight had tested positive, was asymptomatic and did not travel.
“With the questionnaires and protocols we have in place, people would not show up if it were suspected they were carrying the virus,” he said.
“We have very robust procedures in place with the local health authorities in New Jersey as well as with the US Center for Disease Control. Those procedures worked perfectly and that individual did not travel.”
McMillan said passengers on the flight were broadly positive about testing.
“I was able to speak to a couple of customers in the testing facility and even had a customer saying it was a wonderful idea and was happy to see us doing it.”
The airline has been in “very close contact” with corporate customers with details of these pilot programmes. McMillan said, “There is a lot of interest in the approach but we need governments to help facilitate getting them in the air. Corporates see lots of promise but they need to see rule changes from governments.”