American Airlines next month will begin offering passengers Covid-19 testing prior to travel to Hawaii, Jamaica and the Bahamas, with plans for further expansion to other Caribbean destinations.
Testing will begin Oct. 15 for travelers flying from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Honolulu or Maui. American is partnering with home health testing provider LetsGetChecked for at-home testing, monitored virtually by medical professionals, with results returned on average within 48 hours. That option costs $129 and includes shipping, according to the carrier.
In addition, American is working with healthcare provider CareNow for passengers to get tested either at a CareNow urgent care location or for onsite rapid testing at DFW. Travelers can choose any of the three options to avoid Hawaii's 14-day quarantine requirement, so long as testing is completed within 72 hours of their final departure leg.
Both Hawaiian Airlines and United Airlines last week announced plans for testing for Hawaii passengers to begin on that same date.
Additionally, American plans to begin next month Covid-19 testing for passengers traveling to Jamaica from Miami International Airport. As with the Hawaii testing, negative results will enable travelers to skip the 14-day quarantine requirements. Initially, testing will be only for residents of Jamaica returning home, and should that prove successful, it will expand to include all travelers to Jamaica, according to American.
American expects to begin as well next month a testing program for travel to the Bahamas, and it also is working with the Caribbean Community organization, which includes 20 Caribbean countries, to include them in future testing programs.