British Airways is trialling 25-second rapid Covid-19 tests with digital result delivery. Courtesy BA
British Airways is trialling 25-second rapid Covid-19 tests with digital result delivery. Courtesy BA
British Airways is trialling 25-second rapid Covid-19 tests with digital result delivery. Courtesy BA
British Airways is trialling 25-second rapid Covid-19 tests with digital result delivery. Courtesy BA

British Airways to trial 25 second Covid-19 tests for travel


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

British Airways will be the first airline in the world to trial Covid-19 antigen tests that display results within 25 seconds.

The UK airline is conducting the trial alongside medical tech company Canary Global, to assess how its Pelican Covid-19 Ultra Rapid mobile test can play a role in opening up travel.

British Airways' (BA) flight and cabin crew will be invited to take the test and the airline will compare the performance of the results against existing tests that crew are already taking.

Recently approved for use in Europe and UK, the test is currently going through an approval process in the US.

British Airways will initially be inviting flight and cabin crew members to take the rapid test, with the airline comparing the results against their standard Covid-19 test results. Courtesy BA
British Airways will initially be inviting flight and cabin crew members to take the rapid test, with the airline comparing the results against their standard Covid-19 test results. Courtesy BA

BA hopes to be able to offer the testing technology on applicable routes where tests have to meet the stated specificity and sensitivity standards.

Sean Doyle, chief executive at BA, said: “As we start to see the opening up of travel we remain committed to exploring easy and affordable testing solutions to help our customers travel again, whether it’s for business, to reunite with family and friends or take a much-needed break abroad.

"We think this new ultrarapid test is a game changer so we are delighted to work with the team at Canary to begin initial trials with our flight and cabin crew, before exploring what role it could play as a customer testing option.”

How does the Pelican Covid-19 Ultra-Rapid test work?

The Pelican Covid-19 Ultra Rapid test involves a simple saliva swab that can detect symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2, including variants. Courtesy BA
The Pelican Covid-19 Ultra Rapid test involves a simple saliva swab that can detect symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2, including variants. Courtesy BA

The test is a non-invasive saliva ultrarapid digital antigen test that delivers 98 per cent sensitivity and 100 per cent specificity in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2.

To use the test, crew will take a sample of their saliva into a disposable sensor unit, shake and insert it into a reusable digital reader which is connected to a blue-tooth enabled device like a smartphone. The results will then appear in the mobile app. The test is also optimised to detect variants of the virus that have originated across the globe.

British Airways is also trialling a new health app called VeriFLY. Designed to help travellers ensure they meet the entry requirements of their destination before they depart for the airport, the airline is set to trial the app for travellers flying to New York, Miami or San-Francisco.

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Engine: 3.5-litre V6

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 290hp

Torque: 340Nm

Price: Dh155,800

On sale: now

The specs

Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed

Power: 271 and 409 horsepower

Torque: 385 and 650Nm

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Stage seven

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 3:20:24

2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s

3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s

General Classification

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16

2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s

3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s

RESULTS

Men – semi-finals

57kg – Tak Chuen Suen (MAC) beat Phuong Xuan Nguyen (VIE) 29-28; Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) by points 30-27.

67kg – Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Huong The Nguyen (VIE) by points 30-27; Narin Wonglakhon (THA) v Mojtaba Taravati Aram (IRI) by points 29-28.

60kg – Yerkanat Ospan (KAZ) beat Amir Hosein Kaviani (IRI) 30-27; Long Doan Nguyen (VIE) beat Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) 29-28

63.5kg – Abil Galiyev (KAZ) beat Truong Cao Phat (VIE) 30-27; Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Norapat Khundam (THA) RSC round 3.

71kg​​​​​​​ – Shaker Al Tekreeti (IRQ) beat Fawzi Baltagi (LBN) 30-27; Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Man Kongsib (THA) 29-28

81kg – Ilyass Hbibali (UAE) beat Alexandr Tsarikov (KAZ) 29-28; Khaled Tarraf (LBN) beat Mustafa Al Tekreeti (IRQ) 30-27

86kg​​​​​​​ – Ali Takaloo (IRI) beat Mohammed Al Qahtani (KSA) RSC round 1; Emil Umayev (KAZ) beat Ahmad Bahman (UAE) TKO round

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

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match info

Maratha Arabians 138-2

C Lynn 91*, A Lyth 20, B Laughlin 1-15

Team Abu Dhabi 114-3

L Wright 40*, L Malinga 0-13, M McClenaghan 1-17

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Roger Federer's 2018 record

Australian Open Champion

Rotterdam Champion

Indian Wells Runner-up

Miami Second round

Stuttgart Champion

Halle Runner-up

Wimbledon Quarter-finals

Cincinnati Runner-up

US Open Fourth round

Shanghai Semi-finals

Basel Champion

Paris Masters Semi-finals

 

 

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh122,745

On sale: now

THE SPECS

Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6

Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm

Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km

Price: Dh375,000 

On sale: now 

What is a calorie?

A food calorie, or kilocalorie, is a measure of nutritional energy generated from what is consumed.

One calorie, is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C.

A kilocalorie represents a 1,000 true calories of energy.

Energy density figures are often quoted as calories per serving, with one gram of fat in food containing nine calories, and a gram of protein or carbohydrate providing about four.

Alcohol contains about seven calories a gram. 

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