Etihad Airways and Emirates airline are offering international passenger insurance to reassure travelers flying to the UAE after the Iran war.
Emirates is now offering its Comprehensive Travel Cover, which includes medical coverage for conflict-related incidents, backed by hotel accommodation and support for extended stays in a variety of disruption scenarios.
“When itineraries include connections on other airlines or Emirates services are unavailable, Emirates will also rebook disrupted customers to their destination at no extra cost, even when flights have been canceled due to conflict-related disruption,” the airline said in a statement.
The cover also includes trip cancellation coverage, compensation for delayed or lost baggage, unlimited medical expenses, and worldwide emergency evacuation coverage, among other benefits.
“The newly added conflict cover provides reimbursement of medical expenses up to $25,000 and a free travel extension of up to 30 days. The cover is not restricted by government travel advice,” the statement added.
Emirates’ Comprehensive Travel Cover is available from June 17. It can be purchased on the airline's website when booking a flight or added to existing bookings via the Manage Booking tab online.
Etihad announced on Friday that it is partnering with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism to provide free travel medical insurance. This will be offered by insurer Daman to all international visitors arriving in Abu Dhabi on Etihad-operated flights.
In a statement, Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, said: “Abu Dhabi is one of the world’s most captivating destinations, and it is our job to make both getting here and being here as seamless as possible.
Providing comprehensive medical insurance with every eligible Etihad ticket means our guests can fully concentrate on experiencing the extraordinary Emirati hospitality that Abu Dhabi has to offer. This is what it looks like when an airline and a destination truly invest in their visitors.”
The insurance offered by Etihad will be valid from July to December.
It will cover eligible visitors for up to 15 days in the UAE, and no formal application is required. Instead, coverage is automatically provided with every qualifying Etihad ticket.
Any guest flying to Abu Dhabi on an Etihad-operated service, with the point of origin and point of sale outside the UAE, is eligible. This will also include travelers using Etihad's complimentary stopover program, who will be covered for the duration of their stay.
Last week, Emirates President Tim Clark told Reuters that the airline planned to offer "incentives other than price."
"That could be a new means of ensuring your operational safety, for example," Clark said. "We'll take care of all of that, including flying you on other airlines, if necessary, to get you home or take the children to school."
In an interview with the Financial Times, Clark explained the plans to help stranded passengers, saying the airline would guarantee, “We’d get you back regardless of whether it’s on Emirates or not.”
Air travel in the Gulf is ramping up amid a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority announced the full resumption of air traffic operations in the country on May 2.
On June 9, Emirates and Etihad operated 435 and 247 flights, respectively, compared to 531 and 334 flights operated on February 27, the day before the conflict erupted.
Follow airline news at Cruisesnews.es
