Delta to launch ‘no quarantine’ flight between Atlanta and Rome

Delta Air Lines and Alitalia are launching COVID-tested quarantine-free flights between the United States and Italy from December, resuming an air route that has been closed since the outbreak of the pandemic in the spring.

The new program of the country’s largest airline and the Italian national airline will allow a limited number of passengers to take transatlantic flights between three US cities and Rome without having to quarantine themselves on arrival. Travelers will be asked to take a ‘standard’ COVID polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test 72 hours before departure, followed by three rapid tests: at Atlanta airport before boarding, upon arrival in Italy and again before leaving Italy. The same protocol would be followed for travel on airlines from Rome.

DELTA PILOTS AGREE TO REDUCE COSTS, AVOIDING FURLOUGHS

Delta will begin the program on December 19 from Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta for all US citizens permitted to travel to Italy for “essential reasons, such as work, health and education.” European Union and Italian citizens, also for essential reasons, will be allowed to use the route.

Passengers will also be asked to provide information upon entering the United States to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contact tracing protocols.

Reuters reported that Rome’s Aeroporti di Roma and Alitalia would also be involved in the non-quarantine program and that flights to New York’s JFK and Newark Liberty would also be included, although no dates were included for those. flights from these airports.

“Carefully designed COVID-19 testing protocols are the best route to resume international travel safely and without quarantine until vaccinations are largely in place,” said Steve Sear, president of Delta – International and vice -Executive President, Global Sales.

The airline official added that safety was paramount and that “this innovative testing effort” is designed “to help customers feel confident when traveling with Delta.”

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These new plans come as global travel demand continues to be criticized by the pandemic, with the International The Air Transport Association predicts this week that carriers could lose a total of $ 157 billion in 2020 and 2021.

“History books will record 2020 as the industry’s worst fiscal year, without a doubt,” IATA CEO Alexandre de Juniac said in a statement.

He insisted that the borders be “safely reopened without quarantine” as soon as possible.

“While airlines are expected to bleed money until at least the fourth quarter of 2021, there is no time to waste,” de Juniac added.

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The industrial group expects net losses to total $ 118.5 billion, a significant jump from its estimate of $ 84.3 billion in June. IATA now predicts that the airline industry will lose $ 38.7 billion in 2021, following its previous forecast of $ 15.8 billion. Passenger revenues for 2020 are expected to fall to $ 191 billion, from $ 612 billion a year ago.

Teleprinter	security	Latest	Change	% Change
OF	DELTA AIR LINES INC.	41.29	+0.03	+ 0.07%
UAL	UNITED AIRLINES HLDG.	45.64	+0.68	+ 1.51%
AAL	AMERICAN AIRLINES GROUP INC.	14.94	+0.12	+ 0.81%
JBLU	JETBLUE AIRWAYS	15.82	-0.04	-0.25%
LUV	SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.	48.27	+0.02	+ 0.04%

As for the number of travelers, the organization predicts that the total number of passengers will drop to 1.8 billion this year, from 4.5 billion in 2019, and will only partially recover to 2.8 billion in 2021.

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