Italy-US, flying without quarantine requirement

An important record for theFiumicino Airport, the first airport in Europe to activate secure health corridors in order to guarantee flights "Covid Tested". It will therefore be possible to drop the quarantine requirement on flights connecting with the United States.

"Impossible to think of reviving an industry like flying, for tourism or business, if what awaits on arrival is a period of enforced isolation. Restrictions on international travel are killing air travel, putting more than 46 million jobs at risk." This was stated by Alexandre de Juniac, director general of Iata.

The Italian airport world has been at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19 since the first wave in early 2020. To confirm this, here is the system designed for flights Alitalia e Delta, regarding travel between Rome and some American destinations. News that confirms rumors from the Reuters news agency.

In fact, in the day yesterday, there was talk of the U.S. being ready to remove the ban on entry to passengers from all 27 European Union states and Brazil.

Anti Covid system: how it works

The system of securing passengers, which allows the quarantine requirement to be waived, includes pads quick steps to be taken within the airport before boarding the aircraft, and digital health passports. To this will be added later, perhaps, thecompulsory vaccination, when the various countries can distribute the authorized doses.

The key element at this stage is the rapid antigen test. It is indeed possible to obtain a reliable response within 30 minutes. Therefore, it will be necessary to go to the airport further in advance than what is normally recommended. A system already extensively tested, which took its first steps on September 16, 2020, just in Italy, on the Fiumicino-Linate route.

The procedure provides that the passenger shows up at the airport with a Pcr test performed up to 72 hours before departure, he or she will then be subjected, prior to boarding, to a rapid test at the airport (such as occurs today between Linate and Fiumicino) and finally a rapid test upon arrival at Rome-Fiumicino. Upon return to the U.S., the passenger will have to undergo an additional rapid test. Four pads in all - between rapid and "classic"-which should minimize the risk of picking up coronavirus-positive people and could set the course for a return to intercontinental traffic.

Italy-US which airports are affected

The results of tests carried out in September were found to be satisfactory. AdR (Aeroporti di Roma) has pursued negotiations with a variety of companies and authorities in order to extend the tests to as many flights as possible. Looking especially at intercontinental routes, which have experienced the most declines in recent months.

The hoped-for agreement with Alitalia and Delta Air Lines was finally sealed, obtaining authorization from the Italian government. Safe moves with start before Christmas, as the first flight is scheduled to leave on December 18. The routes will be Rome-New York JFK e EWR. As of today, 3 weekly frequencies are scheduled with Alitalia and two with Delta, for the route Atlanta-Rome.

Covid tested flights to other destinations

The official go-ahead will be given only after the order of the ministers of health, transportation and foreign affairs. The possibility of extending this procedure to other routes, such as those that put in Italy and Germany connection, with planes arriving from Munich and Frankfurt.

What changes for Italians

At the moment? Nothing. Hardly in the upcoming new DPCM opens up to non-essential travel to the United States, so this corridor, or bubble, will be open only for U.S. citizens traveling to Italy for important reasons such as work and health. Nor will there be the much hoped-for return of U.S. tourists, although it cannot be ruled out that the U.S. government's meshes will be less tight than Italy's.

• covid tested