The program, developed in cooperation with Delta, Aeroporti di Roma and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport will allow customers to enter Italy without the need to quarantine. The Italian Government is expected to issue a decree soon sanctioning the protocol.
On Thursday (November 26, 2020), Delta Air Lines announced a new program which will allow customers to travel between Atlanta-Hartsfield (ATL) and Rome-Fiumicino (FCO) quarantine and COVID-free. The first of its kind transatlantic testing program has been developed in collaboration with Delta, Aeroporti di Roma, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in accordance with a decree from the Italian Government, which is expected to be issued soon. Delta has consulted with expert advisors from the Mayo Clinic to develop the testing protocols required to successfully execute the program. In Thursday’s announcement, Delta’s President – International and Executive Vice President – Global Sales, Steve Sear, said,
“Carefully designed COVID-19 testing protocols are the best path for resuming international travel safely and without quarantine until vaccinations are widely in place. Safety is our core promise – it’s at the center of this pioneering testing effort and it’s the foundation of our standards for cleanliness and hygiene to help customers feel confident when they fly Delta. The State of Georgia and the Italian government have demonstrated leadership in testing protocols and practices that can safely reopen international travel without quarantine requirements,”
Commenting on the safety of flying with multilayered protocols, the Mayo Clinic’s Chief Value Officer, Henry Ting, M.D., M.B.A, added,
“Based on the modeling we have conducted, when testing protocols are combined with multiple layers of protection, including mask requirements, proper social distancing and environmental cleaning, we can predict that the risk of COVID-19 infection – on a flight that is 60 percent full – should be nearly one in a million.”
Delta Air Lines has also worked closely with the Georgia Department of Public Health to establish a blueprint to help governments reopen important international travel markets in a safe and responsible way.
Delta will launch a dedicated trial from December 19, 2020 on newly launched flights between Atlanta-Hartsfield and Rome-Fiumicino and the tests will exempt visitors from quarantine upon arrival in Italy. The program is available to all U.S. citizens permitted to travel to Italy for essential reasons including work, health and education as well as all EU and Italian citizens. Earlier this year, Aeroporti di Roma and Delta’s codeshare partner Alitalia implemented a successful intra-Italy COVID-tested flight trial. Rome-Fiumicino is the only airport to have received the maximum five-star rating from Skytrax for anti-COVID protocols. Annually, the airport serves over 40 million passengers and has been rated ‘Europe’s Best Hub Airport’ by Airports Council International for the last three years in a row.
Source: Delta Air Lines