Vaccinated passengers could skip quarantine or PCR tests soon, Emirates airline official says

Adel Al Redha also suggested worldwide vaccine passports were unlikely to be mandatory but would greatly ease flying

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  Emirates enhanced cleaning processes on all flights leaving Dubai. All pictures courtesy Emirates Airline

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  Between 18 and 36 cleaners go to work on planes ahead of flights.

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  Emirates said it is going "above and beyond" to safeguard the health of its passengers.

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  Enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures have been implemented.

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  Cleaners will give all surfaces a thorough wipe down using a special chemical that leaves a long-lasting protective coating against viruses, bacteria and fungi.

Latest: Dubai restricts travellers from South Africa and Nigeria as new strains emerge

People who have been inoculated against Covid-19 could benefit from less stringent requirements for travel in the coming months, a senior aviation official said.

While vaccination passports may not become mandatory to board a plane, those who are inoculated against the virus may be able to skip quarantine and isolation rules in different countries.

Adel Al Redha , chief operating officer for Emirates airline, said by sharing digital medical records with airlines, passengers could return to a more seamless travel experience.

I think instead of [vaccination passports being] mandatory, there will be an easing of certain criteria for people who are vaccinated

“I can’t speak on any UAE ruling, but I think instead of [vaccination passports being] mandatory, there will be an easing of certain criteria for people who are vaccinated,” he said.

“There will be less obstacles for those passengers who have taken the vaccination against those who have not.

“I think many countries have already established if you have taken the second [shot of the] vaccine, you will be allowed to enter without having to quarantine or carry a PCR test.”

In the coming months, he said countries would likely start to provide privileges or "an easing of requirements" for those who have taken the Covid-19 vaccine.

Mr Al Redha was talking to ARN radio's Dubai Eye about the recent tie up between the Dubai Health Authority and Emirates, where it will create a digital version of a traveller's Covid-19 medical records.

The records will provide passenger information on Covid-19 including testing history, infection history and eventually, vaccination records.

Once fully operational, Covid-19 health information for each passenger will be shared straight from attested DHA labs to Emirates' reservations and booking system.

“We are trying to establish a link between the Emirates systems, whether it is at reservations or check-in, with the DHA systems,” he said.

“It will automatically provide any data related to Covid-19 testing, so the passenger will not have to carry any documentation.

“It will be more accurate and reliable.”

Beyond that, for phase two, he said the airline was trying to link it to other apps, such as the Iata pass.

If this is achieved, Covid-19 health information for each passenger will be available at the final destination for border control to check.

While this is currently a DHA tie up, Mr Al Redha said it could be extended to other emirates.

“The idea is to expand it to other emirates,” he said.

“DHA will be working with the Ministry of Health and Prevention to try and link the system to all labs in the UAE.”

World's top Covid-19 compliant airlines - in pictures

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  Latvia's Air Baltic scored 7 out of 7 for its Covid-19 compliance rating by airlineratings.com. AAFP

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  Air New Zealand also ranked in the top 20. AFP

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  Alaska Airlines also took the top rating for Covid-19 compliance. Image courtesy Tomas Del Coro

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  Japan's All Nippon Airways made the cut. Reuters

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  Low-cost airline Air Asia is one of few budget airlines in the top 20. Bloomberg

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  British Airways scored big for its Covid-19 compliance. Airlines are scored out of seven categories by airlineratings.com. Reuters

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  Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific also ranked in the top 20. Reuters

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  Delta Air Lines ranks as one of the top 20 airlines for Covid-19 compliance. Getty Images

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  Emirates scored 7 out of 7 for its Covid-19 compliance. Getty Images

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  Etihad Airways also took the highest score. Courtesy Etihad

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  Taiwan's Eva Air was noted for its Covid-19 regulations. AFP

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  Japan Airlines ranked in the top 20 Covid-safe airlines.

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  JetBlue's Covid-19 policies held up to scrutiny. James Darcy / Airbus

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  The Netherlands' KLM also led the way in Covid-19 compliance. Courtesy KLM

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  Korean Air scoreed seven stars for implementing Covid-19 policies. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

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  Germany's Lufthansa also ranked high for its policies to protect travellers against the coronavirus. Reuters

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  Singapore Airlines was listed in the top 20. AFP

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  Southwest Airlines from the US also made the cut. Reuters

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  Qatar Airways ranked in the top 20 airlines for Covid-19 compliance. AP

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  Westjet rounds out the top 20 airlines leading the way for Covid-19 compliance. Getty Images