Delta Air Lines will begin operating its non-quarantine flights from Atlanta to Rome tomorrow, Saturday 19 December. The flights, operating three times a week, will enable passengers travelling exclusively for essential reasons to avoid the 14-day quarantine period required after arriving in Italy, after completing the pre- and post-flight screening protocols.

Italy and Rome's Fiumicino airport are at the forefront in implementing the COVID-tested protocols. Delta's trial programme, in partnership with Aeroporti di Roma, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta and the support of the Lazio Region and Spallanzani Hospital in Rome, is pioneering in opening an air corridor between the United States and Italy. This weekend's flight follows the launch, just four days ago, of a similar COVID-tested flight programme between Atlanta and Amsterdam.

“After almost one year of air travel stalling at unprecedented levels in history, these COVID-tested and quarantine-free flights are a real boost to the aviation industry,and a first step towards reopening our economies,” said Steve Sear, President - International and Executive Vice President - Global Sales at Delta. "The first vaccines are starting to be distributed, but, until they are widely disseminated, trial flights like these can lead the way in establishing valuable corridors for air traffic, protecting local communities and ensuring complete peace of mind for our passengers and our crew when flying ".

COVID-tested flights will operate from Atlanta to Rome on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Passengers must undergo three tests,with a negative result - including two tests before departing. Upon arrival at Fiumicino, passengers will be asked to go to the screening area inside the airport terminal, where the medical staff will administer a quick antigen test. If the result is negative, they will not have to subject themselves to quarantine. This new protocol will be available to all US citizens who are authorised to enter Italy for essential reasons, such as work, health and education, as well as Italian citizens and citizens of the European Union.

“After launching this new travel protocol with Alitalia, we are now happy to expand it with a global leader such as Delta Air Lines,” commented Marco Troncone, CEO of Aeroporti di Roma. “The objective of this initiative remains the same: experiment with solutions that guarantee greater safety and comfort for passengers and which become a permanent travel protocol as early as for the 2021 summer season. Our hope, therefore, is that the Covid-tested corridors are further implemented, given that we consider them an effective system for guaranteeing the safety of passenger flows and enabling the relaunch of air traffic, especially intercontinental air traffic, a strategic for the country and a sector that has been heavily hit by the COVID-19 pandemic ”.

In September, Aeroporti di Roma implemented a trial of COVID-tested intra-Italy flights with Alitalia, Delta's Italian code share partner and Fiumicino airport obtained the maximum 5-star rating from Skytrax for its anti-COVID health protocols. Fiumicino airport has also recently been named "Best European Airport Hub" for the third consecutive year by Airports Council International.

Passengers travelling on the COVID-tested flight from Rome to the United States will be required to undergo a quick test at Fiumicino before boarding and to provide certain information upon entry into the United States in order to support the CDC's contact tracing protocols. Italian and European residents will continue to be subject to the travel restrictions to the United States currently in force.