First transatlantic flight with mandatory Covid tests lands at London Heathrow

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But if you can at least show that everyone’s negative it will open the borders.” Although the passengers tested negative for coronavirus in New York, anyone intending to stay in the UK will still be obliged to self-isolate for 14 days in accordance with normal quarantine regulations. Toby Enqvist, chief customer officer, said: “These flights are a good proof-of-concept for governments around the world that are considering making testing part of the travel experience.” The airline already employs pre-flight testing between San Francisco and Hawaii. “Successful testing of entire flights can be an important key to this.” Munich airport’s chief executive, Jost Lammers, called it “a positive and important signal for the industry,” and said: "This could mean that in future, if the appropriate international agreements are reached, cross-border travel without the obligatory quarantine obligation could once again be possible.” The UK government’s Global Travel Taskforce is believed to have recommended to the prime minister that the current two weeks of self-isolation for arriving travellers be roughly halved.