American Airlines preflight testing initiative in the Caribbean
American Airlines announces its collaboration with several governments to begin offering preflight COVID-19 testing for customers travelling on certain flights in the Caribbean.
The plan will begin with preflight COVID-19 testing for customers travelling to Jamaica and The Bahamas. The initiative aims to help revive the region’s travel and tourism sector.
“The pandemic has changed our business in ways we never could have expected, but all the while, the entire American Airlines team has eagerly tackled the challenge of reimagining the way we deliver a safe, healthy and enjoyable travel experience for our customers,” said Robert Isom, President of American Airlines.
American Airlines will launch initial testing at the Miami International Airport for Jamaican residents travelling to their home country, and once this is successful it will be available to all passengers travelling to Jamaica including US citizens.
Audrey Marks, Ambassador of Jamaica to the United States, thanked the airlines for leading Jamaica as a pilot for its COVID-19 testing program.
“This is timely, given the government’s ongoing review in cooperation with the Global Initiative for Health and Safety group of the current protocols governing travel to the island, and it could be a game-changer, not just for tourism, but also for other key sectors of the economy that have been negatively impacted by the ongoing pandemic.”
The airlines has also started working with the Bahamas and CARICOM to launch similar testing programs that would allow travel to the region.
American Airlines likewise plans to expand the program to additional markets in the weeks and months ahead.
CARICOM Chairman and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime MInister Ralph Gonsalves welcomes the initiative.
“We are pleased that American Airlines has taken the lead to initiate this exciting COVID-19 pre-departure testing program. The Caribbean Community welcomes this important progress to re-open markets with the health and safety of our citizens being of paramount importance, and we’ll be monitoring this program very closely as it ramps up in our region.”
Early last month, the CARICOM launched a travel bubble to resuscitate the regional travel and tourism sectors challenged by COVID-19.