Dubai-based airline Emirates in coordination with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has started conducting on-site rapid COVID-19 tests for passengers.
Passengers on a flight to Tunisia on April 14, 2020 were all tested for COVID-19 before departing from Dubai as part of additional precautions to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The Dubai carrier is the first airline to conduct on-site rapid COVID-19 tests for passengers.
Adel Al Redha, chief operating officer at Emirates said: “The testing process has gone smoothly and we would like to take this opportunity to thank the Dubai Health Authority for their initiatives and innovative solutions. This would have not been possible without the support of Dubai Airport and other government authorities. 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. The health and safety of staff and passengers at the airport remain of paramount importance.”
Humaid Al Qutami, director general, DHA, said: “We are glad to work with Emirates on the successful implementation of rapid COVID-19 testing at the airport for departing travellers.
Al Qutami, added that to tackle COVID-19, the DHA has been proactively working with various governmental organisations and the private health sector and has implemented all necessary measures from a public health protection to provision of high-quality health services in line with the latest international guidelines. “We believe strongly that the most effective solutions require close partnerships with other public and private sector organisations,” he said.
