United Airlines next month will begin a pilot program requiring free Covid-19 testing to all passengers aboard select flights from Newark to London.
The testing program will run from Nov. 16 through Dec. 11 for passengers on United Flight 14, which departs Newark at 7:15 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Passengers can schedule on-site rapid testing at a facility in the Newark United Club near Gate C-93. Appointments are required, and United advises passengers to schedule tests at least three hours prior to their departure.
All passengers aboard those flights over the age of 2 will be required to undergo testing, and those who do not wish to be tested can move to another flight, according to United.
Upon arrival in London, passengers will still be subject to United Kingdom quarantine restrictions, which currently require travelers arriving from the United States to self-isolate for two weeks. Similar to Air Canada's program testing arriving passengers in Toronto that began in September, United will be sharing feedback on the program with the U.S. and U.K. governments in the hopes of presenting testing as an alternative to quarantine.
"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," according to United chief customer officer Toby Enqvist. "Through this pilot program, we'll guarantee that everyone on board has tested negative for Covid-19."
United was the first of several carriers to announce pre-flight testing programs for travelers to Hawaii, where passengers who have negative tests from approved providers are exempt for quarantine requirements. On the first 10 days of the program—which began Oct. 15 and requires passengers to pay for their testing but does not make it a requirement for boarding—United saw passengers between San Francisco and Hawaii nearly double, which the carrier said shows both a pent-up demand for travel and customer willingness to participate in testing programs.