Emirates in coordination with Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will be introducing additional precautions. Passengers on the flight to Tunisia which took place on April 15 were all tested for COVID-19 before departing from Dubai. Emirates is the first airline to conduct on-site rapid COVID-19 tests for passengers.
The quick blood test was conducted by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), results were available within 10 minutes. Adel Al Redha, Emirates chief operating officer said: “The testing process has gone smoothly. 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 need COVID-19 test certificates.”
HE Humaid Al Qutami, director of the DHA, said: “We are glad to work with Emirates on the successful implementation of rapid COVID-19 testing at the airport for departing travellers. We have been proactively working with various governmental organisations and the private health sector and we have implemented all necessary measures from public health protection to provision of high-quality health services in line with the latest international guidelines.”
The airline’s check-in and boarding formalities have also been adapted with social distancing in mind. Protective barriers have been installed at each check-in desk to provide additional safety measures to our passengers and employees during any interaction. Gloves, masks and hand sanitisers have been made mandatory for all employees at the airport.
Passengers are also required to wear their own masks when at the airport and on board the aircraft, and follow social distancing. Magazines and other print reading material will not be available, and while food and beverages will continue to be offered on board, packaging and presentation will be modified to reduce contact during meal service. Cabin baggage are currently not accepted on flights. Carry-on items allowed in the cabin are limited to laptop, handbag, briefcase or baby items. All other items have to be checked in, and Emirates will add the cabin baggage allowance to customers’ check-in baggage allowance.
All Emirates aircraft will go through enhanced cleaning and disinfection processes in Dubai, after each journey.