NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines
today announced the world's first free transatlantic COVID-19
testing pilot program for customers. From November 16 through December 11, the airline will
offer rapid tests to every passenger over 2 years old and crew
members on board select flights from Newark Liberty International
Airport (EWR) to London Heathrow (LHR), free of charge. Anyone who
does not wish to be tested will be placed on another flight,
guaranteeing everyone on board other than children under two will
have tested negative before departure.
"We believe the ability to provide fast, same-day COVID-19
testing will play a vital role in safely reopening travel around
the world and navigating quarantines and travel restrictions,
particularly to key international destinations like London," said Toby
Enqvist, chief customer officer for United. "Through this
pilot program, we'll guarantee that everyone* on board has tested
negative for COVID-19, adding another element to our layered
approach to safety. United will continue to lead on testing, while
at the same time exploring new solutions that contribute to the
safest travel experience possible."
United will share customer feedback of this pilot with
governments on both sides of the Atlantic to further demonstrate
the effectiveness of these programs as an alternative to mandatory
quarantines or duplicative travel restrictions. United has seen a
positive impact on travel demand and significant increases in
customer load factors and revenue when testing options are
available.
United will collaborate with Premise Health, who will administer
the rapid testing pilot program for the EWR-LHR flight. The test
will be given to passengers traveling on United Flight 14,
departing at 7:15 p.m., Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays. Appointments for the test are required, and
customers are advised to schedule their tests at least three hours
before their flight. An on-site testing facility will be located at
the Newark United Club near Gate C93. For more information on the
testing program, please visit united.com/covid-testing.
Before the pandemic, United operated six daily flights between
New York/Newark and London on a 767-300ER (76L), offering not only
the most frequency among U.S. carriers but also the most business
class and Premium Economy seats. Click here for b-roll and still
images of United Airlines' COVID-19 testing programs.
United was the first airline to announce optional pre-flight
COVID-19 testing for customers. Earlier this month, the airline
started offering customers traveling from San Francisco International Airport to
Hawaii the option to take a
same-day, pre-flight rapid test at the airport or a conveniently
located drive-through test, for a fee. The program allows customers
with a negative result to bypass Hawaii's mandatory quarantine requirements and
enjoy their time on the islands sooner. In the first 10 days,
October 15 – 25, the San Francisco to Hawaii flights have seen a nearly 95% increase
in passengers compared to the prior two-week period. United
believes these positive trends illustrate a strong and pent-up
demand for travel, customers' willingness to use pre-flight
COVID-19 testing and the importance of these programs as a means of
opening borders.
And just last week, United participated in a successful test
program between New
York/Newark and
London of CommonPass, a digital
health pass, aimed at enabling safer travel and the reopening of
international borders. Customers who chose to participate in the
program were able to seamlessly provide their COVID-19 test results
to relevant governments.
Since the start of the pandemic, United has been a leader among
U.S. airlines in enacting new policies and innovations designed to
keep employees and passengers safer when traveling. It was the
first U.S. airline to mandate masks for flight attendants, quickly
following with all customers and employees. United was also among
the first U.S. carriers to announce it would not permit customers
who refused to comply with the airline's mandatory mask policy to
fly with them while the face mask policy is in place. United was
also the first U.S. airline to roll out touchless check-in for
customers with bags and the first to require passengers to take an
online health assessment before traveling. And last month, the
airline announced it will apply Zoono Microbe Shield, an EPA
registered antimicrobial coating that forms a long-lasting bond
with surfaces and inhibits the growth of microbes, to its entire
mainline and express fleet before the end of the year.
For more details on all the ways United is helping keep
customers safe during their journey, please visit
united.com/cleanplus.
* Indicates all customers over 2 years of age
About United
United's shared purpose is "Connecting People. Uniting the
World." For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on
Twitter and Instagram or connect on Facebook. The common stock of
United's parent, United Airlines Holdings, Inc., is traded on the
Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".
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SOURCE United Airlines