UAE’s Etihad launches health and hygiene programme

Etihad Airways has launched its ‘Etihad Wellness’ initiative, an expanded health and hygiene programme as well as customer guide that will build on its existing stringent measures.

The Etihad Wellness programme will be communicated through an online guide highlighting high standards of cleanliness, health and hygiene being applied at every stage of Etihad’s customer journey. This includes culinary hygiene, aircraft cabin deep-cleaning, check-in, health screening, boarding, inflight experience and product, crew interaction, arrival, and ground transportation.

The programme will also be supported by the introduction of trained wellness ambassadors who will provide essential travel health information and care. Etihad will expand the service to include a web-chat option. All wellness ambassadors will undergo training at the airline’s training facilities in Abu Dhabi, and online.

Tony Douglas, group chief executive officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Providing for our guests, and their wellbeing, is one of Etihad’s core values, and we have a responsibility to protect them, to keep them fully informed, and to provide even greater levels of genuine warmth and personal care. We must guarantee they can travel assured in the knowledge that we have every aspect of their journey with us covered, while still providing a top-quality travel experience. The Wellness Ambassadors will play an important role in delivering this. For us it is not simply about dealing with a new normal – this level of genuine and innovative customer care has always been part of Etihad’s DNA since our inception.”

Over the coming weeks, Etihad will also introduce wellness ambassadors at Abu Dhabi International Airport in partnership with Abu Dhabi Airports (ADAC), ensuring that the same levels of support are rendered at every point of the customer journey through the airport.

Upon lifting of travel restrictions in the UAE and resumption of the airline’s expanded network of international flights, Etihad will introduce wellness ambassadors onboard, complementing the roles of other cabin crew members.

“The wide-ranging measures we are taking are a strong reflection of those already in place across the emirate of Abu Dhabi. When restrictions are fully lifted and travellers can once again enjoy the best our wonderful home has to offer, they can rest assured their trip will be to one of the cleanest and most well-maintained destinations in the world. This will of course also apply to those transiting onwards through the capital. We are grateful to our partners, including Abu Dhabi Airports, and the Department of Culture and Tourism, for their close cooperation in this far-reaching programme,” concluded Douglas.