Global airline alliance calls for rapid COVID-19 testing to restore air travel

SkyTeam is calling for standardised COVID-19 testing before departure to restore international air travel in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. SkyTeam and its 19 members are supporting the enhancement and implementation of testing protocols, both before departure and on arrival where necessary. The alliance wants to “enable the safe reopening of borders and offer an effective alternative to quarantines,” after COVID-19 travel restrictions have brought the airline industry to its knees. The move comes after the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) called for reliable COVID-19 rapid testing before departure in order to re-establish global air connectivity. SkyTeam said they believe scalable and reliable rapid COVID-19 testing, implemented in cooperation with local airport authorities and governmental bodies, will enable borders to reopen safely “while offering customers greater peace of mind.”<br/>