While vaccines roll out worldwide, testing is still a critical requirement
for getting air travel off the ground
Vaccines are slowly moving into position as the answer for the global pandemic. Until they are ubiquitous, testing passengers for COVID-19 will still be essential for enhancing the safety of domestic and international air travel—and for reassuring passengers that you are doing all you can to help protect their health while in-flight.
The U.S. and Canada require all passengers to have a negative COVID test prior to entry. The CDC requires that passengers take a test within 72 hours of boarding.1 Other countries have similar requirements.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has collaborated on guidelines with the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) and has created the “Manual on Testing and Cross-border Risk Management Measures”.2 They stress the importance of pre-departure testing.
Recommendations and protocols for air travel testing
Updated guidelines from the CDC and WHO currently recommend testing 24–48 hours prior to travel for domestic and international flights and testing post-arrival per country protocol.
One of the most streamlined and accurate models for passenger testing is for airlines to link to a full-service lab provider that can provide a turn-key, end-to-end solution for the traveler at the time of booking.
Beyond testing, a full-service lab provider coordinates all parts of the testing process: collecting the sample, running the tests, and sending the results to the people being tested and to digital health passport vendors. The passenger can then show proof of a negative test from the vendor at the time of boarding.
Infographic: The ideal airline testing process
Which COVID-19 testing technology?
The ability to detect the virus when there are no symptoms is key.
People who are carrying the virus without showing symptoms have low viral amounts but can still spread the disease. A COVID-19 test needs to be highly sensitive to detect these low viral amounts. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are the most sensitive and accurate available.3 For that reason, PCR is considered the gold standard technology for COVID-19 testing.
Infographic: Comparing technologies for air travel testing
Get the complete COVID-19 passenger testing guide for airlines
This guide explains the testing options for the airline industry, the best practices for testing, and the additional resources needed by airlines, labs, government agencies, and digital health passport vendors.
Access a comprehensive network of testing solutions
Thermo Fisher Scientific empowers labs and full-service lab providers with reliable, accurate COVID-19 testing technology by offering a comprehensive network of testing solutions. We are also working to connect labs and digital health passport vendors so that airlines can work with organizations that provide a complete, efficient COVID-19 testing workflow for their passengers.