From October 1st until December 31st 2020 Etihad Airways will offer PCR tests included in all air tickets booked by customers in the UAE for flights departing from Abu Dhabi International Airport, with the exception of services to China.
The airline is collaborating with Life Medical Diagnostic Center (Life Dx) to offer convenient testing between 48 to 96 hours prior to departure, at its network of collection facilities in the UAE. Travellers flying First or Business will also have the option of selecting tests at their home. The quick and easy process can be booked directly with Life Dx.
Dr. Nadia Bastaki, Etihad Aviation Group Vice President Medical Services, said: “This is a significant development which allows Etihad to provide greater ease of travel for those departing from Abu Dhabi, by removing as much inconvenience from the PCR testing process as possible. This follows on perfectly from the recent introduction of complimentary COVID-19 insurance cover on all Etihad Airways tickets.
Hosam Fouad, Founder and CEO of Life Medical Diagnostic Center, said: “We are delighted to announce our strategic partnership with Etihad Airways to manage their passengers’ COVID-19 PCR testing requirements.
“The solution’s main concept is to ramp-up the capacity of Life Dx’s central lab for up to 40,000 tests a day through fully automated state-of-the-art robotic systems and to create a wide network of sample collection centres through partnering with selected healthcare providers across the UAE. Now passengers can book their appointments online easily at their most convenient location and time before their flight.”
Travellers flying to China from Abu Dhabi are subject to specific testing protocols and can only useSEHAtesting facilities. They must show a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from a government approved testing facility within 48 hours prior to departure, for approval to board.
