American Air joins rush to provide preflight virus testing

American Airlines joined the dash among US carriers to offer preflight coronavirus testing to Jamaica and Hawaii that it hopes to eventually expand to other international markets. The initial phase, starting next month, will involve Jamaican residents travelling to their home country through American’s hub at Miami, the carrier said Tuesday. A negative test would waive a 14-day quarantine requirement on arrival in the country. The program could be expanded later to all passengers traveling to Jamaica. American also will offer tests between Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Hawaii as of Oct. 15. Further expansion could include the Bahamas and other Caribbean countries. Details of the Jamaica testing program weren’t immediately disclosed. For flights from Dallas-Fort Worth to Honolulu and Maui, American will partner with LetsGetChecked, a home-testing provider owned by PrivaPath Diagnostics that will provide results within 48 hours. In-person testing will be provided by CareNow, a unit of HCA Healthcare Inc. Travelers can visit a clinic location or get a rapid test at the airport. American didn’t immediately provide the cost of testing, which must be completed within 72 hours of the final leg of flight. As in Jamaica, visitors to Hawaii can avoid a two-week quarantine with a negative test. The state’s self-isolation rule has been discouraging most travelers.<br/>