Delta Air Lines has teamed up with CVS Health to test airline employees for the coronavirus and hope to ease traveler concerns.
The tests will be conducted in Delta hub crew lounges and take less than 15 minutes to diagnose whether an employee has been infected by the disease. The testing will provide a baseline of understanding for how many Delta workers carry the virus.
The airline hopes that the testing will ease travelers’ concerns about taking a flight during the pandemic.
“We intend to use what we learn from this round of testing to make sure our re-testing program is one that continues to instill confidence among our people and with consumers about traveling with Delta,” said Joanne Smith, Delta’s executive vice president and chief people officer.
The disease has essentially decimated the airline industry.
Over 20% of the industry’s aircraft remain grounded because demand has not returned as people are concerned about becoming infected while aboard an airplane, according to Airlines for America, a nonprofit organization advocate for the air industry.
The disease forced four domestic airlines to either file for bankruptcy or closed since March. That number increases to 13 for airlines outside the United States.
Passenger volume is down roughly 70% when compared to this time last year and is unlikely to return before 2023, according to Airlines for America.
The so-called load factor for domestic flights, which measures percentage of available seating filled with passengers, was 48% on Aug. 16. A year ago it was 87%.
One issue hurting airlines is states that have issued self-quarantine for out-of-state travelers. For example, Hawaii issued its mandatory order on March 26 and ever since air travel to that state has been essentially nonexistent, according to Airlines for America, down by 94%.
