Alitalia Adds Rome-Tokyo COVID-Tested Flights For Summer

Italian national flag carrier Alitalia plans to introduce COVID-Tested flights between Rome and Tokyo this summer. Following the successful trial of COVID-Tested flights between Rome and New York, Alitalia intends to introduce the scheme on flights between the eternal city and the Japanese capital.

Alitalia to fly from Rome to HND three times per week. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Working together with Aeroporti di Roma Alitalia, COVID-Tested flights are only available for passengers who test negative for COVID-19. To qualify, passengers must have carried out a rapid or molecular antigen test (RT PCR) taken via swab within 48 hours of boarding.

Three flights per week between FCO-HND

Planned to coincide with the delayed 2021 Summer Olympics, Alitalia will operate three non-stop COVID-Tested flights per week between Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND). On the route, Alitalia will deploy one of its 11 Airbus A330-200 aircraft for the twelve and a half hour flight.

When speaking about the new Tokyo COVID-Tested flights, the Italian Stock Market website Borsa Italiana quotes Alitalia for issuing the following statement to passengers and Italian athletes heading to the Olympics:

“All passengers, including the Italian athletes, will have to present at boarding a certification proving negativity to Covid 19. Upon arrival at the airport in Rome, a further antigen test. The negativity found in this second test will exempt passengers arriving in Rome from Japan from having to observe the fiduciary quarantine period in Italy, a modality that has reassured the market, in parallel with the progress of the vaccination campaign in our country.

“The resumption of Alitalia flights to Japan will also be characterized by the inauguration of services at the most convenient city airport of Tokyo Haneda, only 20 kilometers from the city.”

Alitalia COVID-Tested flights allow passengers to skip quarantine. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

After being the first airline globally to inaugurate COVID-19 tested flights on the Rome to Milan and the Rome to New York routes, Alitalia confirms its commitment to passenger safety.

What are “COVID-Tested” flights?

COVID-Tested flights are Alitalia flights that the Italian Ministry of Health has authorized through a special ordinance that does not require passengers to quarantine on their arrival in Italy.

Passengers on “COVID-Tested” flights are required to:

• Hand to Alitalia a certificate saying that they tested negative for COVID-19 after taking a molecular test (RT PCR) or antigenic test no later than 48 hours before boarding
• Complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) – digital dPLF to be shown before boarding
• Take another molecular (RT PCR) or antigen swab test at the arrival airport in Italy

Passengers who arrive in Italy on COVID-Tested flights are not required to quarantine and are free to move around the country.

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New York to get two flights per day

Thanks to almost 18 million American’s being of Italian descent, Alitalia’s flights between New York and Rome have historically been one of the airlines’ best routes. Now following the announcement that Italy is open to American tourists, Alitalia has seen a surge in summer bookings.

JFK to get two Rome flights per day in March. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

From June, Alitalia will offer daily COVID-Tested flights between Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Starting in July, the frequency of flights between Rome and the Big Apple will double to two flights per day departing Rome at 10:00 and 14:50.

What do you think about COVID-Tested flights? Please tell us your thoughts in the comments. 

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