It seems Delta Air Lines and KLM are to launch their own COVID cleared flights from Atlanta to Amsterdam, but with an interesting twist.
KLM Boeing 777-300ER arriving at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
The new service will run from 15th December 2020, operated by KLM and Delta. The two airlines have worked with the Dutch Government, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to deliver a COVID-19 testing program that will allow eligible customers to be exempt from quarantine upon arrival after receiving a negative PCR test result on landing in the Netherlands.
Delta Boeing 767-300ER arriving at London Heathrow – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
The COVID-tested flights will operate four times per week from Atlanta to Amsterdam, with Delta and KLM operating two frequencies each. Only passengers with negative test results will be accepted on-board. The flights will initially run for three weeks and if successful, the airlines hope to extend the program to other markets. You will be able to choose the COVID-tested flights when they purchase their tickets online or opt for one of the alternative Delta or KLM daily flights between Atlanta and Amsterdam that are not covered within the trial program.
Normally when entering the Netherland,s you are required to spend 10 days of quarantine. However, by completing a negative PCR test 5 days before arrival in the Netherlands and self-isolating until departure, customers can choose to complete the quarantine ahead of their departing flight. No quarantine will be required upon arrival once the customer tests negative via a second PCR test at Schiphol airport.
To fly on Delta and KLM’s COVID-tested flights from Atlanta to Amsterdam, customers will need to:
- Take a COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test 5 days before arrival in Amsterdam (and self-isolate until departure).
- Take a Rapid antigen prior to boarding at Atlanta Airport.
- Take a PCR test directly upon arrival at Schiphol.
This service protocol will be available to all citizens permitted to travel to the Netherlands for essential reasons, such as for certain specified work, health and education reasons. If you are transiting onto other locations, you will still be required to follow that countries rules on self-isolation/mandatory quarantine.
In Quotes
Pieter Elbers, President & CEO KLM Royal Dutch Airlines said:
“This is a very important and great step forward. Until an approved working vaccine is available worldwide, this testing program represents the first step towards the international travel industry’s recovery. I am grateful for the constructive collaboration with our partners Delta Air Lines and the Schiphol Group and to have the support of the Dutch Government to make this unique COVID- free travel corridor trial possible. All stakeholders need to work together on a systematic approach to rapid testing and build these tests into the passenger experience, so quarantine measures can be lifted as quickly as possible. This is fundamental to restore passengers’ and governments’ confidence in air travel,”
Steve Sear, Delta President – International and Executive Vice President – Global Sales said:
“Creating COVID-free travel corridors, in addition to the multiple layers of safety and hygiene measures we have implemented through the Delta CareStandard, will provide customers – and authorities – greater confidence that they can stay healthy when flying,”
“Delta has worked with our partners and health authorities to reopen the skies safely and resume international air travel until a vaccine is in place removing the requirement of quarantine.”
Royal Schiphol Group CEO Dick Benschop said:
“This is an important step to validate that test regimes make safe and responsible air travel possible while reducing the need for travel bans and long quarantine measures. We thank the Dutch Government and our partners”
Another triple-check trial
The triple check trial is currently being piloted by British Airways and American Airlines – even if it does not allow for those who land in the UK to skip isolation/quarantine requirements. This trial is more of a game-changer, with the government happy to let people in who have a specific need to enter the Netherlands, whilst ensuring they are COVID tested.
Confidence and safety are not far from everyone’s mind when travelling – as is risk reduction. These moves would seem to reduce risk to passengers, crew, as well as the populations of the arriving country.
It’ll be interesting to see if other airlines or groups can use this triple-test standard to drive confidence and open borders further, whilst the race for vaccines continues.
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