Etihad offers complimentary Covid-19 tests for flights from Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi carrier Etihad Airways will offer Covid-19 PCR tests as part of tickets booked by customers in the UAE for flights departing from the Abu Dhabi International Airport, the airline has confirmed.

This directive is effective from October 1 until December 31, 2020 on all of its flights from Abu Dhabi, with the lone exception of services to China.

The airline has partnered with Life Medical Diagnostic Center (Life Dx) to offer testing between 48 to 96 hours prior to departure at the latter’s network of facilities across the UAE.

Travellers flying First or Business will also have the option of opting to undertake the tests at their home.

The services for the testing can be booked directly with Life Dx.

We’ve partnered with @lifedx to include COVID-19 PCR tests on all flights departing Abu Dhabi from today until 31 December 2020, giving you one less thing to worry about when you travel. For more info, visit: https://t.co/PgJFwaVa9u pic.twitter.com/1GIOG0WZN2

— Etihad Airways (@etihad) October 1, 2020

Hosam Fouad, founder and CEO of Life Medical Diagnostic Center, said: “The solution’s main concept is to ramp-up the capacity of Life Dx’s central lab for up to 40,000 tests a day through fully automated state-of-the-art robotic systems and to create a wide network of sample collection centres through partnering with selected healthcare providers across the UAE. Now passengers can book their appointments online easily at their most convenient location and time before their flight.”

The airline added that travellers flying to China from Abu Dhabi are subject to specific testing protocols and can only use SEHA testing facilities. They must show a negative Covid-19 PCR test result from a government approved testing facility within 48 hours prior to departure for approval to board.

For all other travellers leaving the UAE from Abu Dhabi, a negative Covid-19 PCR test result is required within 96 hours prior to departure. Those travelling to Morocco will also require an lg antibody test.

Customers have been advised to visit the airline’s website for country-specific PCR testing requirements, and lists of applicable medical testing facilities, and entry regulations.

“This is a significant development which allows Etihad to provide greater ease of travel for those departing from Abu Dhabi, by removing as much inconvenience from the PCR testing process as possible,” said Dr. Nadia Bastaki, Etihad Aviation Group vice president Medical Services.

Etihad stated that for those passengers departing from Abu Dhabi who wish to book their tests independently, it has partnered with SEHA and Mediclinic Middle East, to offer departing travellers the option of convenient PCR testing, for a fee, at their home, or at selected facilities in the UAE prior to their travel.

Last month, the airline announced that all Etihad tickets, regardless of the date on which they have been booked, will include the Covid-19 insurance for those traveling until December 31, 2020.

Read: Abu Dhabi carrier Etihad Airways offers global Covid-19 insurance cover to passengers

Passengers will be covered for up to EUR150,000 of medical costs and up to EUR100 a day of quarantine costs in case of a positive diagnosis for 14 days.

Etihad has resumed flights to 58 destinations across its global network, and rolled out its Etihad Wellness health and hygiene programme to ensure the safety of its passengers and employees.