Emirates

Weeks ago it would have been unimaginable to see Israeli officials fly to the United Arab Emirates and walk out onto a red carpet. That wasn't the only unusual part of the visit.

The testing began with passengers on a flight from Dubai to Tunisia on Wednesday. The airline says it is the first to roll out rapid testing.

The European company says it has no reason to continue production after its biggest customer cut back its orders. Despite much fanfare, the double-decker plane has struggled to find a market.

Emirates said the recent restrictions on visas and electronic devices had dampened consumer demand. The Dubai-based carrier will pare back flights to five of the 12 U.S. cities it serves.

Emirates will offer nonstop flights that begin in Dubai and end in Panama City, and take 17 hours and 35 minutes. The airline says that's the longest nonstop commercial westerly flight on the market.