Airline operators and airport owners have once again encouraged governments to replace quarentine with testing for travellers.
The outcome of a combined trial conducted by American Airlines, British Airways and the oneworld Alliance reveals that a comprehensive Covid-19 testing programme can help re-start a safe international travel.
The support is as a result of analysis from researchers at the University of Oxford, who studied data on how passengers evaluate risk and comply with Covid-19 rules.
According to the study carried out by the Oxford Internet Institute (OII), analysed aggregated survey data from almost 600 travellers who took part in the voluntary testing trial on select flights from the United States to London Heathrow, between November 2020 and March 2021. The sample offered three free Covid-19 tests, taken during the trip. Passengers partaking in the test conducted in two stages, took an original PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) test at 72 hours prior to departure; a second test (LAMP) upon arrival at London Heathrow (LHR); and a third test Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) taken three to five days after arrival in the United Kingdom(UK).
In the first stage, just one out of a hundred travelers who took a test within 72 hours of their departure tested positive and, as a result of the test, they did not travel. None of the travelers who took a test upon arrival at London Heathrow (LHR) tested positive.
For travelers who took the third test after arriving in the United Kingdom(UK), just 0.4 percent of travelers tested positive.
The investigation by researchers at the Oxford Internet Institute suggests that the testing sample results were “broadly consistent” with previous testing sample programmes in the flying industry.
99.7 percent of the travelers said they were happy to obey the Covid-19 testing requirements as an alternative to quarantine once international travelers are prepared to pay for low-priced testing.
Almost 70 percent of travelers said they would travel if compulsory to take a Covid-19 test within 72 hours before departure and after arrival.
However, 70 percent of travelers said they would like to travel if it is compulsory to take a test at the airport before departure, almost 75 percent of travelers are ready to be tested at the airport upon arrival at their destination.
“As many countries make progress on vaccinating their citizens, the debate over reopening travel safely is becoming increasingly important, I’m pleased our team has been able to make a contribution to this discussion through this detailed analysis of passenger sentiment and behavior.” Says Philip Howard, professor of internet studies at Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford.
The results of the Oxford study will be shared with governments and stakeholders, in addition to the growing body of knowledge that shows how to complete Covid-19 testing can provide governments the assurance they need to increase ticket limitations and allow travel to continue safely.
“The Oxford study further reinforces that customers are willing to undergo Covid-19 testing as an alternative to quarantine. The trial findings underline the important role that testing can play in the safe reopening of international travel, including hugely significant routes between the United States and the UK. The affordability of testing is crucial for travelers, and we stand ready to partner with governments and the private sector to offer affordable testing options for our customers who would like or need to travel again.” Says American Airlines, British Airways, and Oneworld in a joint statement on the Oxford findings
Share this:
Post a Comment