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Emirates Drops Rapid-Response Covid Test Trial
- Emirates with some fanfare last month trialed a rapid-response Covid test in Dubai for some flights to Tunisia. The test required a pinprick of blood and returned results in 10 minutes. But further analysis found the test to be only about 30% accurate, The National reports. Emirates has dropped the trial, and Dubai has said it will use a more accurate nasal-swab test, although these have not been widely deployed at the airport.
- United has rebranded its aircraft cleaning protocol “United CleanPlus.” The airline is working with the famed Cleveland Clinic to develop biosecurity measures to create standards for such practices as mandating facial coverings and developing touchless kiosks. United also has joined forces with cleaning-products company Clorox to develop disinfection protocols for aircraft and hold areas. United will make Clorox sanitation products available to passengers at its Chicago and Denver hubs.
- Blocking middle seats to increase social distancing was one of the first ways airlines, particularly in the U.S., hoped to allay passengers’ fears of Covid transmission. However, some airlines are quietly backing away from this practice as demand returns — it was never financially sustainable, IATA and industry analysts have said.
But JetBlue said it will continue blocking middle seats through the July 4 holiday. That’s on its fleet of A320-family jets. On its E190s, aisle seats will be blocked. Passengers traveling together can opt to sit next to each other, however.
This is part of JetBlue’s “Safety From the Ground Up” program, which aims to reduce touchpoints throughout the air travel experience.