PASSENGERS are now being given blood tests before boarding to determine whether they have coronavirus.
Emirates is the first airline to introduce quick Covid-19 tests, which take just ten minutes.
⚠Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
The airline has conducted the new practice on a flight from Dubai to Tunisia.
The type of testing used reportedly involved drawing blood and was able to provide results within 10 minutes.
This works by checking the immune system for antibodies or proteins which could mean the person being tested has been exposed, and has therefore produced the antibodies to defend against it.
Emirates has not confirmed whether passengers would be refused boarding based on the results of the tests.
Chief Operating Officer Adel Al Redha said that there were plans to start using these tests on other flights too.
He told CNN: “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 traveling to countries that require COVID-19 test certificates.”
Other airlines have also made changes in response to the outbreak – Delta has revised its boarding process to a back-to-front system to encourage better social distancing.
This procedure will reportedly be in operation until at least May 31, although the policy will likely be adjusted or extended depending on the latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak.
EasyJet are also looking into keeping the middle seat empty when the airline resumes their flight schedule, to help passengers to social distance.
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS – BE IN THE KNOW
Get the latest coronavirus news, facts and figures from around the world – plus essential advice for you and your family.
To receive our Covid-19 newsletter in your inbox every tea time, sign up here.
To follow us on Facebook, simply ‘Like’ our Coronavirus page.
EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren told reporters: “I expect that to happen. That is something that we will do because I think that is something that the customers would like to see.”
Mandatory masks may also be a thing of the future post coronavirus, along with more expensive plane tickets.
A version of this story appeared on Fox News and has been reproduced with permission
