Yahoo TV

Italy’s busiest airport will soon run COVID-tested flights to and from the United States operated by Delta and Alitalia.

Rome's Fiumicino airport on Thursday said starting in December - passengers flying between Rome and some U.S. destinations can be tested for the coronavirus 48 hours before departure and on arrival at the airport, in order to avoid the mandatory 14-day quarantine Italy imposes on incoming travelers.

The new protocol will be valid for those flying from New York JFK, Newark and Atlanta.

Italian carrier Alitalia experimented with COVID testing on some domestic flights in September… But the government progressively restricted travel between regions to tackle a second wave of infections.

Fiumicino Airport says the Italian government is expected to SOON give the go-ahead to COVID-tested flights coming in from the U.S, which would also allow them to offer such flights between Rome and Munich, and Rome and Frankfurt.

In a separate statement, Delta said it would reopen its routes between Atlanta, Georgia, and Rome on Dec. 19 to those traveling for work, health or academic reasons.