From Thursday (12 November), passengers flying between Munich and Hamburg will be offered the opportunity to take a free antigen test.

Those who do not wish to be tested will be placed on an alternative flight at no additional cost.

Lufthansa will offer the tests on two daily flights; LH2058, which departs Munich for Hamburg at 9.10am, and LH2059, from departs Hamburg for Munich at 11.15am.

The airline has partnered with biotech firm Centogene and healthcare provider Medicover Group to administer the tests.

Passengers who opt to be tested will have to register in advance and allow a little more time before departure.

They will get their results within 30 to 60 minutes, at which point their boarding pass will activate, granting them access to the gate.

Alternatively, passengers can present a negative PCR test taken no later than 48 hours before departure to activate their boarding pass.

Lufthansa says flight LH2058, departing next Thursday, will be the first test flight to carry a 100% Covid negative passenger cohort.

The airline has also pledged to trial the system on selected other routes in Germany.

Christina Foerster, Lufthansa Group executive board member for customer, IT and corporate responsibility, said: “With our test strategy, we are pursuing the goal of using the data obtained to gain important insights into the use of rapid tests.

“Successful testing of entire flights can be the key to revitalising international air traffic.”