By Juan Pedro Sanchez Zamudio
Three Main Latin American Carriers Reinforces Strategies to Protect Passengers
The main Latin American airlines LATAM, Avianca and Aeroméxico have announced campaigns to reinforce the safety and operational hygiene protocols offered to its passengers, all in line with the recommendations of international authorities.
Aeroméxico signed agreements with four medical laboratories, which will be added to the previous two that the carrier already works with, to offer discounts and other benefits on COVID-19 tests for the carrier’s passengers who have a valid reservation with Aeroméxico or their strategic partner, Delta Air Lines.
In a press release, the Mexican carrier announced that in addition to preferential costs in PCR and rapid antigen tests, passengers will have access to other benefits such as an exclusive line for the attention of Aeroméxico and Delta Air Lines customers, bilingual consultants, home delivery results in Spanish or English. Club Premier members will also have an exclusive telephone line and home service at no additional cost.
The delivery times of the results maybe 24 hours for PCR tests and 30 minutes for the antigen COVID-19 tests.
The new four medical laboratories that the Mexican carrier will work with are Laboratorios Dr. Moreira and Swisslab Laboratorio de Análisis Clínicos, which are located in Monterrey; and, Olab Diagnósticos Médicos and Biomédica, placed both in Mexico City.
Starting March 1, LATAM Airlines will ban the use of valve masks (any model), mouth guards, scarves and cloth bandanas on all its flights due to their proven low efficiency in filtering viruses and bacteria.
According to a press release, those passengers who do not comply with these measures will not be boarded. The carrier recommends passengers carry replacement masks on long-duration flights, following the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the use and time of the masks.
During February, LATAM Airlines Chile installed at each seat in every carrier’s aircraft, a sheet with antibacterial and antiviral properties, placed on the tables located.
This initiative ensures the complete elimination of viruses and bacteria, with proven resistance to repetitive cleaning and use by passengers, without affecting its action.
As a way to support the safe return of domestic and international transportation, the LATAM Airlines Group has signed agreements with important clinical laboratories throughout the continent, ensuring access to its passengers with preferential rates for PCR COVID-19 tests.
Avianca and SynLab Colombia join forces as allies to facilitate the fulfillment of travel requirements for the Colombian carrier’s passengers flying from Colombia to its international destinations.
In a press release, Avianca informed that those who purchase tickets at the L and XXL rates will not have to pay an additional cost for the PCR COVID-19 test or antigen COVID-19 test (accepted in the United States), which will be included in the value of the ticket. Travelers who purchase XS, S, M or XL fares will also be able to access to substantial discounts for PCR COVID-19 tests and antigen COVID-19 tests.
The Colombian cities available for the test are: Bogotá, in which the time results will be in 24 hours, and in Cali, Medellín, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Manizales and Santa Marta, the time results will be in 36 hours.
The three things Juan Pedro loves most about aviation are aircraft, airports, and traveling thousands of miles in just a few hours. What he enjoys the most about aviation is that it is easier and cheaper to travel around the world and this gives you the opportunity to visit places you thought were too far away. He has traveled to different destinations in North, Central, South America and Asia. Born, raised and still living in Perú, Juan is a lawyer, soccer lover, foodie, passionate traveler, dog lover, millennial and curious by nature.
