PCR test application of THY for transit passenger criticized by experts  

Turkish Airlines requires all passengers coming to Turkey to have PCR tests. However,  it is observed that transit passengers are exempt from it. So one can fly for 10 hours with a positive patient sitting in the seat next, all the way from India where the virus is at its peak to Istanbul. THY carried 7 million 234 thousand external transfer passengers in 2020.

According to World Health Organization data, the number of cases worldwide has exceeded 153 million, even according to official data, and the rate of spread is at its highest since the outbreak began. According to a journalist from SOZCU newspaper, Turkey is in a hurry to reduce the rate of spread within its borders as much as possible with the decision to “fully close”, while there is a significant deficit in preventing foreign-related transmission.

Turkish Airlines wants PCR testing from passengers coming to Turkey, but transit passengers are exempt from it. In other words, no matter where in the world, even in India or Brazil, where the pandemic is at its peak, a Covid-19 positive passenger can board a Turkish Airlines plane.

And there is no obstacle for a positive passenger who does not give this PCR test to come and sit next to another person. For about 3 hours if one is coming from London or Paris, and more than 10 hours if coming from New York or New Delhi, one can fly side by side with someone with Covid who has not passed a PCR test because this person is a transit passenger and is therefore not known to be positive. It’s not difficult at all for a contagious person to infect a plane full of people in these conditions.

CARRIED 7 MILLION TRANSIT PASSENGERS

In 2020, Turkish Airlines carried 7 million 234 thousand passengers in transit to another country.