Coronavirus Tests Mandatory On United Flights From UK To Chicago

CHICAGO — Travelers flying from London on United Airlines will be required to present proof of a negative coronavirus test in order to board flights to Chicago starting Monday, the airline announced.

The negative test must have been taken within 72 hours of the flight's departure.

"The health and safety of our employees and customers is our highest priority," airline representatives said in a statement.

"United has been a leader in enacting new policies and innovations designed to keep employees and passengers safer when traveling, including mask mandates and requiring customers to complete a 'Ready-to-Fly' checklist before the flight acknowledging they have not been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days and do not have COVID-related symptoms."

The new policy applies to all passengers ages 6 and up whose trips begin in the U.K. That means that travelers connecting to a United flight at London Heathrow after arriving from another country are exempt.

The airline plans to cut its daily flights from Heathrow in half next month, eliminating flights to San Francisco and Washington, D.C., leaving only routes to Chicago and Newark.

British Airways, Delta and Virgin Atlantic this week announced coronavirus tests are negative for passengers flying from the United Kingdom to New York following urging by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Dozens of countries have blocked or restricted flights from the United Kingdom this week following reports of a new and potentially more contagious strain of the coronavirus.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said its preliminary analysis found the new strain is “significantly more transmissible,” but experts say there are no signs the new variant is any more deadly or resistant to vaccines or treatment.

"Given the early evidence we have on this new variant of the virus, the potential risk it poses, it is with a very heavy heart, I must tell you, we cannot continue with Christmas as planned," Johnson said Saturday, announcing a new tier of restrictions.

Thousands of truckers heading from England to France were halted at the port of Dover until they could show a negative COVID-19 test. Officials expect many truckers to have to spend Christmas Day waiting in their cabs.

Earlier this month, Chicago airport officials announced a plan to offer increased airport testing options by the end of the year. Both O'Hare and Midway international airports will offer PCR tests — required for some international destinations — as well as rapid antigen tests.

“The Chicago Department of Aviation is proud to present the most comprehensive COVID-19 testing program of any airport system in the nation,” Jamie Rhee, the department's commissioner, said in a statement.

O'Hare will have a walk-up testing site adjacent to the terminal and a drive-thru site in a remote parking lot. There will also be a walk-up testing site in the terminal at Midway, according to department officials.

People must show proof they have a flight within the next 72 hours or the past five days or work at the airport to qualify for a test at the Chicago airports.

“With two types of tests available at both airports, as well as our strict adherence to public health guidelines requiring face coverings and social distancing throughout the terminals," Rhee said, "we aim to provide the traveling public and the wider airport community with a safe environment and peace of mind.”