Lufthansa has disclosed that 150,000 passengers were monitored for Covid-19 at the Frankfurt airport testing facility it opened in late June with Fraport and Centogene, and about 1% of samples taken over the last six weeks gave a positive result for the disease. More than 97% of test results were digitally transmitted to passengers within 24 hours throughout August, says Lufthansa, and travellers who had registered in advance waited about 20 minutes before being tested. The walk-in centre opened on 29 June, the idea being that passengers who tested negative for Covid-19 could avoid having to go into quarantine. Testing capacity in Frankfurt has since been increased to 10,000 tests per day, while a similar facility opened at Hamburg airport in mid-August. Lufthansa confirms that Germany’s airport testing strategy for travellers from high-risk countries will continue until the end of September. However, the German government signalled in August that it could be replaced after the summer holiday travel period with a mandatory 14-day quarantine requirement. “Instead of abolishing the tests from October and dismantling the successfully established testing infrastructure at airports, the existing testing capacities should be further expanded and used even more extensively,” said Lufthansa Group customer, IT and corporate responsibility board member Christina Foerster. “The data obtained from the tests can make a significant contribution to reacting to the current infection situation with targeted and appropriate measures.”<br/>
star
ANA will resume flights from Japan to Hawaii in October after suspending its service to the popular US destination about six months ago due to the coronavirus pandemic, sources familiar with the plan said Monday.The carrier has decided to operate two round trips in the month between Narita and Honolulu, mainly targeting people who wish to travel for business or to study abroad, the sources said. The flights using a Boeing 787 passenger jet will depart Japan Oct. 5 and Oct. 19, but the service between the two cities is set to remain suspended on other days. The company, which suspended the service in late March, will consider its plan for November and thereafter depending on the demand. <br/>
All planes flying in and out of Singapore are now required to set up an on-board emergency quarantine area by blocking off a section of seats, as part of measures to minimise passengers' risk of exposure to Covid-19. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said that passengers or crew who become unwell with fever or any Covid-19 symptoms during a flight must be moved to the quarantine area and be isolated from others. The lavatory closest to the quarantine area must also be reserved for those who are unwell. Singapore Airlines (SIA) has set aside the last three rows on the left side of its planes. Any SIA crew member serving the ill person on board will also have to wear full personal protective gear. Jetstar Asia has also set aside the last three rows on either the left or right side. The requirement became known this month when Jetstar Asia said it had set up on-board isolation zones, among other measures, to guard against the spread of Covid-19. Alan Foo, acting senior director of the safety regulation group at CAAS, said the authority had mandated the quarantine area in May. "To minimise the risk of exposure to Covid-19 during their journeys, safe travel measures have been put in place for all flights operating into and out of Singapore," he added. Other measures developed in consultation with the Ministry of Health include requiring passengers to wear masks throughout flights and having those flying to Singapore take a basic health assessment before boarding the plane.<br/>