Etihad Airways rolls out Covid-19 home-testing for travellers in the UAE

Etihad Airways has rolled out a new initiative that now allows its outbound passengers in the UAE to avail of home Covid-19 testing prior to their departure, as part of its Etihad Wellness programme.

For this, it has teamed up with Mediclinic who will offer passengers the testing service either at their home or at a Medicare facility.

Currently, passengers travelling from Abu Dhabi to Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea or Indonesia, may require a negative Covid-19 PCR test result before departure, the airline said on its website.

“Guests travelling to all our destinations from Abu Dhabi can make use of this service, as well as those crossing the Abu Dhabi border from other emirates to reach Abu Dhabi Airport,” the airline added.

To book a Covid-19 test, Etihad has outlined the following steps:

– Book a flight with Etihad
– To arrange for the appointment, visit the Mediclinic website, call the clinic or email [email protected]

Tests results will be ready within 24 hours of the sample being collected.

Etihad has recommended that passengers book the appointment a minimum of 48 hours before departure.

Those who test negative for the virus, can print their test results and proceed with their travel plans. The negative test result will be inspected during the check-in process at the airport.

However, those who test positive will be unable to travel immediately. The Department of Health will be notified and the passenger will be required to follow necessary quarantine guidelines in the UAE.

In a similar move for passengers departing from Dubai International Airport, DUBZ, dnata’s baggage technology and logistics company, partnered with Mediclinic to offer Covid-19 testing bundled together with its home check-in services to travellers in Dubai.

That service can be booked for Dhs199 via the DUBZ website and those who test negative will obtain a medical certificate within 24-48 hours of being tested.

Read: Dnata’s DUBZ now offers Covid-19 testing as part of its home check-in services in Dubai