Air Canada Is Planning To Have COVID-19 Tests Before Flights That Give Results In An Hour

The aviation industry has taken a major hit during the worldwide pandemic. One airline is looking to the future to make sure people can fly again. An Air Canada COVID-19 test is in the works, and it could give results in one hour.

In a July 8 press release, the airline announced that they would be partnering with Spartan Bioscience to explore the possibility of having rapid testing before flights.

According to Spartan's website, they are exploring how their existing DNA testing process can be used to deliver results on COVID-19 in under an hour. It is based on a similar test developed by the CDC.

The company states that its tests can be used by non-technical staff and used outside of a laboratory setting.

The device, as well as the cartridges it uses, are still awaiting approval from Health Canada.

"Air Canada's strategy for managing COVID-19 has been to develop and apply multiple layers of biosafety measures for customers and employees," Samuel Elfassy, Vice President of Safety at Air Canada said in a statement.

"We believe the availability of a rapid, accurate, portable molecular test for COVID-19 will add yet another effective layer."

These rapid tests would be joining Air Canada's other safety precautions brought on by the pandemic.

Those include taking passengers' temperatures before they board their plane, as well as requiring everyone to wear masks during the flight.

Air Canada had also previously blocked the sale of adjacent seats in economy class to promote social distancing in its cabins.

However, the airline announced at the end of June that it would be ending this policy, in addition to reintroducing in-flight meals.

WestJet also took a similar route in putting all of its flights back to full capacity. The change went into effect on July 1.