By Robb M. Stewart

Air Canada has teamed with Shoppers Drug Mart to offer customers in three provinces Covid-19 tests before they fly in order to comply with international travel requirements.

The airline on Friday said that eligible passengers can from Dec. 17 book and buy a test at participating Shoppers Drug Mart locations in Ontario, Alberta and British Colombia, with results typically available within 48 hours.

Many countries now require a pre-departure negative Covid-19 test. Canadians are eligible to be exempt from Hawaii's mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival in the Hawaiian islands via a pre-travel testing process, Air Canada said.

A Covid-19 testing study by researchers at University of British Colombia and Providence Health Care launched Friday that will investigate a method of rapid testing for departing passengers at Vancouver International Airport.

The study, sponsored by WestJet Airlines Ltd. and Vancouver Airport Authority, seeks to take samples from adult WestJet customers who are residents of British Columbia and haven't tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 90 days. The study aims to determine whether a rapid screening program is a practical and effective way to reduce the spread of Covid-19 amongst travellers.

Write to Robb M. Stewart at robb.stewart@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

11-27-20 1312ET