Seems unfortunate, and I wonder how many U.S.-bound travelers are getting an unpleasant surprise at airport check-in. As someone said in other thread, maybe it's due to some local law?
To Emirates' credit they emailed us that within 24 hours of booking so props to them. Hopefully everyone gets that email with time to book PCR - fingers crossed. I don't know if this is reactive because so many people got caught by surprise or what.
Our backup plans, incidentally, are flying through YYZ (if we can't get a Covid test in 24 hours, though I don't think it will be an issue) - that way we have 72 hours from test collection to results; and then our portable antigen to get back from YYZ to USA if need be.