Global healthcare leader Cleveland Clinic will now provide medical advisory services to Air Canada as the carrier further develops biosafety measures across its operations.

The partnership gives Air Canada access to the local expertise of Cleveland Clinic Canada as well as clinical expertise from Cleveland Clinic’s worldwide enterprise system.

“As airline travel adapts to a new normal, we are taking another leadership role via our partnership with renowned Cleveland Clinic which enables Air Canada to leverage the strategic insight, advice, resources and recommendations of the world’s leading medical community to further develop protocols, guidelines and standards validated with science-based evidence in our ongoing COVID-19 response. We are committed in our ongoing strategy of continually developing multiple layers of measures for our customers and employees alike,” said Samuel Elfassy, vice-president, Safety at Air Canada.

Air Canada has led the airline industry in responding to COVID-19. It was one of the first carriers globally to require face coverings onboard and was the first airline in the Americas to take customers’ temperatures prior to boarding. In May it introduced a comprehensive biosafety program, Air Canada CleanCare+.

Cleveland Clinic’s Medical Director Program was initiated in Canada for domestic and global companies and is supported by management and clinical experts across the enterprise to provide strategic guidance on health and safety matters for customer safety.

As the medical advisor to Air Canada, Cleveland Clinic will provide access to leading expertise including guidance on:

• Infectious exposure and toxicology
• Pandemic and infrastructure response planning and prevention
• Medical contingency plans and process development
• Crisis and organizational risk management

“As the public begins to adjust to a world that’s been altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, health and safety is of the utmost importance,” said Michael Kessel, Cleveland Clinic  Canada, CEO and president. “It is an honour to use our 99 years of clinical expertise to support Canadian organizations in a way that helps protect our communities.”