When it comes to boosting demand, airlines get creative. Low-cost airlines are selling their tickets for 7,99 euros and less, Etihad Airways will now include a free PCR test for every booking from Abu Dhabi until the end of the year. This does not apply to flights to China.

A negative result is necessary in many countries in order to be allowed to enter the country at all. Incidentally, the United Arab Emirates also demand this. Etihad Airways is now trying to stimulate demand with the included PCR test. However, this is also quite difficult, because in some countries you can not even enter despite the negative test.

Air Canada takes a different route and placed a bulk order with Abbott. The new rapid test is to be used across the network shortly. But first you want to test your own employees. Later it is also being considered that passengers across the network will have to complete a quick test before each departure. At the airports in Toronto, arriving travelers are currently being tested selectively in order to gain their first practical experience.

"Rapid tests are also a means of allowing governments to adequately relax current blanket travel restrictions and quarantines while maintaining the health and safety of the public," said Jim Chung, chief medical officer of Air Canada. “We are further encouraged by the preliminary results of our partnership with MHL and the GTAA in our belief in the effectiveness of tests, including self-performed tests. The preliminary results suggest that a shorter, test-based strategy might be available, safe and an alternative to the 14-day quarantine ”.

Since the Toronto-Pearson Study began on September 3, MHL has conducted nearly 13.000 tests on returning international travelers who have volunteered to participate. The result was negative for 99 percent of those tested.