TURKISH AIRLINES COVID-19 NEWS BULLETIN: UPDATE TO USA

USA TRAVEL RESTRICTION As of January 26, 2021, the following additional Covid-19 regulations for all passengers aged 2 years and over on our flights to the United States are required by the order issued by the United States CDC units. Click here to access the published order. 1- All passengers have to submit a negative PCR (nucleic acid test) or antigen test with the sampling date maximum 3 calendar days before prior to the flight departure time OR Written or electronic documentation of a positive viral test result with a sampling date minimum 10 days or maximum 90 days ago prior to the flight departure time that confirms the passenger had a previous COVID-19 infection and a letter from a licensed health care provider or public health official stating the passenger is cleared to travel (documentation of recovery) at their origin station and their arrival to USA.  2- Attestation Form: As per the rule set by the authority, all station officials must verify with the attestation form shared by the CDC that every passenger aged 2 years or older have a negative test result or document of recovery with the positive test result in accordance with the rules. In order to access the attestation form, click here. The form must be completed by the passenger for all passengers aged 2 and over, and the parent or other authorized person may fill the form on behalf of passengers between the ages of 2 and 17 or who can’t give consent on their behalf.  3-  Test and Document Details: All test results can be in written or electronic form. Laboratory test result is required. Negative Test result documents must contain the following details: Information identifying the person (name, date of birth), type of viral test, sampling date of the test, name and contact information of the person / institution performing the test. The statement indicating that the test result is negative should be "NEGATIVE", "SARS CoV-2 RNA NOT DETECTED", "SARS CoV-2 ANTIGEN NOT DETECTED", "COVID-19 NOT DETECTED". Test results indicated as "Invalid" will be considered invalid. The positive viral test result documents of the passengers who have healed from the Covid-19 infection and will travel with a documentation of recovery from the relevant health authorities must contain the following details: Information identifying the person (name, surname, date of birth), type of viral test, sampling date of test, name and contact information of the institution. The positive test result should be in the form of "POSITIVE", "SARS CoV-2 RNA DETECTED", "SARS CoV-2 ANTIGEN DETECTED", "COVID-19 DETECTED". Test results indicated as "Invalid" will be considered invalid. However, on the document of recovery, the official's name, address, telephone number and descriptive information such as the passenger's name and date of birth must be included.  4- Time Calculation For Tests: If the time between connections on the same ticket does not exceed 24 hours during the travel period of the passenger to the USA, sampling time of the test must be maximum 3 days ago for negative tests or 90 days ago for positive tests for passengers traveling with a documentation of recovery from the departure time of the flight at the origin point. However, if the trip to the USA is on a different ticket or the time between connecting flights exceeds 24 hours, the time calculation must be made according to the departure time of the Istanbul / USA flight. If the flight will be delayed for any reason, passengers whose test period exceeds 3 calendar days are not accepted to the flight.  Exemptions: 

• Flight crews on duty (including crews on duty on another flight traveling as deadhead)
• Federal law enforcement officers and US military personnel (they must be on official duty)

 You can find the answers given by the CDC for frequently asked questions on the subject here.