Those booked to fly with Etihad between now and December 31, 2020 will qualify for the COVID-19 cover.
The insurance, made in partnership with AXA, is valid worldwide for 31 days from four hours before passengers depart on their first Etihad flight. The cover ceases when travellers return to their home country, or after 31 days, whichever happens first.

Travellers diagnosed with COVID -19 will be automatically covered for medical expenses or quarantine costs when flying with the national airline. Travellers who want to use Etihad’s coverage must contact the assistance team as early as possible, because medical expenses taken before this will not be reimbursed.

The policy has medical cover up to €150,000 (Dh651,000), and up to €100 per day for quarantine costs for 14 days. It also covers medical repatriation for the insured person and one travel companion, plus any accompanying children.

If the infection results in death, Etihad will cover the costs of repatriating the body back to the country of departure or to another specified location, as well as reimburse up to €1,500 in funeral costs.

Travellers diagnosed with Covid-19 while on their trip must contact the airline’s COVID-19 assistance team. There is a dedicated 24-hour hotline for both Arabic (+971 4 507 4002) and English (+971 4 507 4007) speakers.
All passengers flying with Etihad must have a negative Covid-19 test before travelling, but the policy does not cover the cost of this process.

Meanwhile, Etihad said on September 7 that the pay cut for employees will be extended till end of 2020. Emirates, on the other hand, has said that it will pay full salaries from October. The Dubai carrier has resumed flights to 84 destinations.

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Residents are required to apply for an entry permit through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai website. A certificate must be produced proving that they have tested negative in a COVID-19 PCR test before boarding the plane and on arrival at airport.

All returning residents must download the COVID-19 DXB smart app.

The mandatory 14-day quarantine is not necessary for residents who have presented a negative test result certificate at the airport.

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Consul-General of India in Dubai Dr Aman Puri has confirmed that India and the UAE are moving towards an air bubble concept. The agreement enables a sharing of flights between the countries to repatriate Indian citizens, and stranded expatriates can return to the UAE on the return leg of the Vande Bharat Mission (VBM) flights.

Dr Puri said that between August 1 and 15, 164 Air India and Air India Express flights will operate from India to the UAE on the return leg of VBM. He added that the consulate has issued 57 NOCs to Emirates for flights operating from July 29 to August 15; several NOCs were issued to other UAE carriers too.

Dr Puri said that regulations set by the UAE authorities have to be followed by anyone who wishes to travel back from India to the UAE.

The Consul General said passengers can book tickets online through the websites of the UAE carriers chartering repatriation flights or through travel agents. He clarified that there is no need for community organisations or companies to charter these flights any more.

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