United Airlines has requested the latest negative coronavirus test for flights from London to the United States

(CNN) – United Airlines became the fourth major airline with routes between London and the New York metropolitan area on Thursday, asking passengers to prove they were recently tested negative for the new coronavirus.

As of Dec. 28, passengers flying United from London Heathrow Airport to the United States must provide proof of a negative coronavirus test or antigen test within three days of departure, company officials said in a statement. .

United Policy applies to its flights flying from Heathrow to Newark, New Jersey, as well as the company’s flights to Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, DC.

British Airways, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic announced similar requirements for flights from the UK to New York on Monday.

On Thursday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said his state would require United passengers to test negative for the virus within 72 hours of their flights from London to Newark.

“As we continue to experience a second wave of COVID-19 cases, it is essential that all precautions be taken to mitigate the potential for further transmission,” the statement said in part.

United said the health and safety of its workers and passengers was “its highest priority.

The policy applies to people over the age of 5 who start their journey at Heathrow – which has a test site at one of its terminals. Travelers must make an appointment to be tested, according to the Heathrow website.

Passengers connecting London Heathrow with a United flight from another country would be exempt from this policy, the airline said.

Non-US citizens or legal residents – with some exceptions – are barred from flying to the United States if they have been in the United Kingdom for the past 14 days, says the State Department.

United said it had already asked passengers to admit that they had not been diagnosed with Covid-19 in the last 14 days and that they had no symptoms.

When he checked in for the flight, the passenger admitted on the airline’s Ready-to-Fly checklist that he had not been diagnosed with Covid-19 and had no symptoms related to Covid, an airline spokeswoman said. .

After receiving more information about the health of this passenger, “it seems that he misrecognized this requirement,” the spokesman said.

CNN’s Chris Boyette and Sheena Jones contributed to this report.

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