Etihad Joins The List Of Airlines Offering Free COVID-19 Insurance

In the continuing effort to entice passengers back into flying internationally, Etihad Airways is the latest airline to offer free insurance to passengers in the event that they contract COVID-19 while flying the airline. Etihad’s plan is part of their new health and hygiene program Etihad Wellness and covers medical expenses and quarantine costs.

“The safety, health and well being of our guests and employees is our top priority, during and beyond the flight,” explains Duncan Bureau, Senior Vice President Sales and Distribution of Etihad Airways. “The introduction of global COVID-19 insurance, in partnership with AXA, builds on stringent measures already in place as part of our Etihad Wellness program championed by our Wellness Ambassadors. This additional cover will not only instill confidence to travel but also reassure our guests that we are doing all we can to keep them safe and protected. As more countries start opening their borders, we are making it as easy as possible for our guests to plan their next trip, hassle-free.”

Regardless of the date of booking, all tickets for travel from September 7th to December 31, 2020 will be covered with insurance in effect for 31 days from the first date of travel. Passengers who have booked travel previously for this time period are automatically covered. The coverage includes $177,702 for medical expenses and $118 per day in case of a 14 day quarantine.  

Etihad’s UAE competitor Emirates was the first out of the gate with this plan in July offering free worldwide coverage also valid for 31 days from departure with the same $177,702 and $118 per day amounts in effect until October 31^st. Virgin Atlantic offered its even more generous coverage beginning August 24^th and extending until March 31st 2021 with no limit on the trip’s length of stay, $639,775 in emergency medical expenses, $3839 in quarantine costs with an extra $1280 for meals. (And in the worst case scenario: $6398 for funeral expenses.)

Other airlines have insurance partners for passengers to buy plans now geared to COVID-19 expenses. If these airlines’offers seem to encourage passenger bookings, though, it’s likely that more will be on the way as the airline industry worldwide looks to recover.