Tropic Ocean Airways Offers Preflight COVID-19 Testing
The amphibious airline will test travelers on site in Florida prior to departure for the Bahamas
Tropic Ocean Airways, an amphibious airline providing air travel between South Florida, the Bahamas and greater Caribbean, is working with the Bahamian Government to offer preflight COVID-19 antigen testing at its Fort Lauderdale International’s Sheltair facility and the Miami Seaplane Base to locations in The Bahamas.
In addition to offering immigration pre-clearance through its partnership with Bahamas Pre-Clearance, the service will help facilitate direct travel to all islands of the Bahamas, reducing additional touchpoints and possible congestion at ports of entry, removing the logistical challenges of testing upon arrival.
Travelers to the Bahamas are required to provide a negative test result using a COVID-19 RT-PCR swab test no more than seven days prior to travel, plus have a Bahamas Health Travel Visa and receive an antigen test. This is all part of their commitment to welcome visitors and residents back safely.
One of Tropic Ocean Airways’ testing partners, Genome LLC, has offered to offset costs to travelers by providing a package deal including the COVID-19 RT-PCR swab test and Ag Antigen test. The Ag Antigen test kits have the required 95 percent specificity and sensitivity.
Further, the Government of the Bahamas recently announced that the 14-day mandatory “vacation in place” quarantine will expire on October 31. Thereafter, visitors and residents alike will be able to move about and explore the destination at their leisure and discretion.
Tropic Ocean Airlines is a partner with the Bahamas to bring visitors and residents back to the country in a safe and efficient manner, and to facilitate arrivals across the archipelago to have an immediate impact on tourism. To help the re-opening, Tropic Ocean Airways will offer pre-testing capabilities at cost to its guests and will offer the service to other carriers at its Fort Lauderdale International facility.
In response to the coronavirus, Tropic Ocean Airways has strengthened the cleaning and sanitation procedures onboard all aircraft and in guest lounges. These increased safety measures underscore the company’s commitment to provide first-class private charter flights and scheduled service throughout Florida, the Bahamas, and beyond, including directly to private yacht charters at sea.
South Florida-based Tropic Ocean Airways, LLC is a United States certificated commuter air carrier, founded by United States Navy TOPGUN fighter pilot Rob Ceravolo in 2009.
