As the global total for coronavirus cases exceed two million, aviation industry giants Emirates has announced what it claims to be an industry first 10 minute pre-boarding coronavirus test kit for passengers departing from its Dubai home base. As you’d expect from the name, passengers will be cleared for boarding within just 10 minutes of taking the test.
The airline believe it or not is actually still half operational, carrying out limited passenger flights earlier this month after the UAE grounded all commercial aircrafts in the country. Now before you start thinking that you can start globetrotting again, the flights are only open to foreign citizens who wish to leave the UAE, and incoming passengers are not allowed to board.
Regardless, it is still a feat in itself! The blood tests were conducted by the Dubai Health Authority in the check-in area, with results coming out in just 10 minutes. With over 90 percent of the 10 million people living in the UAE being expats, it’s little surprise that a measure like this would start there.
“Passengers on today’s flight to Tunisia were all tested for Covid-19 before departing from Dubai,” the airline said in a statement.
“Emirates is the first airline to conduct on-site rapid Covid-19 tests for passengers.”
“We are working on plans to scale-up testing capabilities in the future and extend it to other flights.
“This will enable us to conduct on-site tests and provide immediate confirmation for Emirates passengers travelling to countries that require Covid-19 test certificates.”
– Emirates chief operating officer, Adel al-Redha
Of course, with this not being a time to take any chances, Emirates also said that it would clean and disinfect their planes after each flight, which is no less than you would expect, really. The UAE has seen a total of 5,365 positive cases of the coronavirus, with 33 deaths so far.
This industry first practice from Emirates, which is the largest carrier in the Middle East paves the way for flights to resume worldwide once governments around the world start loosening lockdown measures. Spain and Germany have already slowly started easing virus curbs, with many other nations around the world doing so as well.
These 10 minute test kits could prove valuable not just in the reopening of the tourism industry, but also to get people stranded in foreign countries around the world back to their home country safe and sound.
