Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Airways is now collaborating with Mediclinic Middle East, part of private hospital group, Mediclinic International, to offer its UAE-based travellers a convenient COVID-19 PCR testing service at their home, or at a Mediclinic facility, prior to their travel. This development is part of the airline’s Etihad Wellness sanitisation and safety programme, recently introduced to ensure the highest standards of hygiene are maintained at every stage of the customer journey.
Some destinations may require a negative COVID-19 PCR test result before departure. All travellers are advised to check www.etihad.com for specific destination requirements. Guests travelling to all Etihad Airways destinations can also make use of the Mediclinic service, as well as those crossing the Abu Dhabi border from other emirates to reach Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Dr. Nadia Bastaki, Vice President Medical Services, Etihad Airways, said: “Collaborating with world-class medical providers such as Mediclinic is vital to the services Etihad is providing its guests as part of the Etihad Wellness programme. We have a paramount responsibility to ensure those who are travelling from Abu Dhabi can do so assured in the knowledge that every effort is being made to care for them at every stage of their journey. Enabling home PCR testing will remove much unnecessary stress from the travel experience during this challenging period.
“These measures are also a reflection of those being taken across Abu Dhabi, which has been a world-leader in its response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccine research, mass testing, and community sanitisation programmes. Etihad will continue to work closely with the local authorities and partners to find innovative and convenient ways to protect our guests, and to promote secure and hygienic flying as the world slowly opens up to international travel.”
The airline aims to evolve the relationship with Mediclinic to further simplify the home testing process for its guests as international travel restrictions are eased and more countries open their borders to inbound visitors.
David Hadley, Chief Executive Officer of Mediclinic Middle East, said: “Mediclinic is proud to partner with Etihad Airways on this new initiative which will enable their passengers to undergo COVID-19 PCR testing in the convenience of their homes prior to travel, or at one of our facilities in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain or Dubai, should they prefer. All testing is carried out by a trained professional, and our dedicated COVID-19 testing laboratories in Abu Dhabi and Dubai mean that results are available quickly and accurately.”
Simple and convenient booking process:
Note: Many destinations will require the test to be conducted at a specific time before travel. Etihad recommends that an appointment takes place a minimum of 48 hours prior to travel.
Information on Etihad Wellness initiatives is available through an easy-to-use online guide highlighting the high standards of cleanliness, health and hygiene being applied at every stage of the customer journey. This includes culinary hygiene at the airline’s catering facilities and food testing laboratory, aircraft cabin deep-cleaning, check-in, health screening, boarding, inflight experience and product, crew interaction, arrival, and ground transportation. Comprehensive information on these travel health and hygiene measures is available at www.etihad.com/wellness. The programme has been championed by specially trained Wellness Ambassadors, a first in the industry, who have been introduced by the airline to provide essential travel health information and care on the ground and on every flight, so guests can fly with greater ease and peace of mind.
Etihad continues to follow UAE and international government, regulatory and health authority directives, and is playing its part in helping to limit the spread of COVID-19.
