Airline launches quarantine-free travel to Amsterdam from the US

Another airline is introducing quarantine-free travel to Europe. From December 15, trans-Atlantic partners Delta and KLM will launch COVID-tested flights to Amsterdam to allow US passengers to avoid a long quarantine when they land.

Following the news that United will offer COVID-tested flights to Rome and London, Delta and KLM are working with the Dutch government and airports in Amsterdam and Atlanta to create a comprehensive rapid COVID-19 testing program that will allow passengers on select flights to be exempt from quarantine on arrival, but only if they receive a negative test result.

"This is a very important and great step forward. Until an approved working vaccine is available worldwide, this testing program represents the first step towards the international travel industry’s recovery," said Pieter Elbers, president and CEO of KLM.

The trial will run for three weeks and if successful, the testing program will be rolled out to other destinations. Customers will be able to select a COVID-tested flight when they purchase their ticket. They also have the option to book a regular, non-tested flight between the two destinations and quarantine for ten days upon arrival in the Netherlands. The flights will operate four times per week from Atlanta to Amsterdam.

The COVID-tested flight option is available to US citizens permitted to travel to the Netherlands for essential reasons. To avail of the flight, customers must take a COVID-19 PCR test five days before traveling to Amsterdam, then take a rapid antigen test prior to boarding at Atlanta airport and then take a final PCR test directly upon arrival at Amsterdam Schiphol airport.