<p>Lufthansa is to start trialling rapid pre-flight coronavirus antigen tests in Germany next week, which passengers will need to pass in order to fly.</p>.<p>Only those testing negative or able to provide evidence of a negative test within the previous 48 hours will be allowed to board, the airline said on Friday.</p>.<p>The carrier will use the tests for two daily flights between Munich and Hamburg from Nov. 12 onwards to see how the test procedure can be included in the pre-flight routine.</p>.<p>"Successful testing of entire flights can be the key to revitalising international air traffic," said Christina Foerster, Lufthansa board member for Customer, IT & Corporate Responsibility. "(We) want to gain insights into the use of rapid tests in asymptomatic groups of people."</p>.<p>The pandemic has pushed the global aviation industry into its worst crisis, and recovery to 2019 levels is not expected before 2025.</p>.<p>Airlines worldwide are pressing governments to abandon or ease quarantines and other travel curbs that have worsened the slump, and instead, roll out rapid Covid-19 testing at airports.</p>.<p>Antigen tests give results much faster than the widely used PCR swab tests, which are done in a laboratory but can be less reliable.</p>.<p>Lufthansa's Austrian unit started trialling rapid tests last month.</p>
<p>Lufthansa is to start trialling rapid pre-flight coronavirus antigen tests in Germany next week, which passengers will need to pass in order to fly.</p>.<p>Only those testing negative or able to provide evidence of a negative test within the previous 48 hours will be allowed to board, the airline said on Friday.</p>.<p>The carrier will use the tests for two daily flights between Munich and Hamburg from Nov. 12 onwards to see how the test procedure can be included in the pre-flight routine.</p>.<p>"Successful testing of entire flights can be the key to revitalising international air traffic," said Christina Foerster, Lufthansa board member for Customer, IT & Corporate Responsibility. "(We) want to gain insights into the use of rapid tests in asymptomatic groups of people."</p>.<p>The pandemic has pushed the global aviation industry into its worst crisis, and recovery to 2019 levels is not expected before 2025.</p>.<p>Airlines worldwide are pressing governments to abandon or ease quarantines and other travel curbs that have worsened the slump, and instead, roll out rapid Covid-19 testing at airports.</p>.<p>Antigen tests give results much faster than the widely used PCR swab tests, which are done in a laboratory but can be less reliable.</p>.<p>Lufthansa's Austrian unit started trialling rapid tests last month.</p>