Air Arabia offers free medical cover for Covid-19: what's covered and how to claim it

The insurance will automatically be applied to bookings, and covers costs associated with medical treatment and quarantine

High altitude view of the earth. A slight curvature can be seen on the horizon.

Air Arabia will offer passengers flying out of Abu Dhabi and Sharjah free medical insurance for Covid-19-related costs. Supplied

Emma Day

Oct 06, 2020

Air Arabia will offer all passengers travelling from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi free medical cover for Covid-19-related expenses.

The low-cost airline's insurance will cover customers heading to any destination, and will be valid for 31 days from the date of departure.

The insurance will automatically be applied to bookings, and covers costs associated with medical treatment and quarantine for any travellers diagnosed with the coronavirus during their trip.

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“The new Covid-19 global assistance cover underlines our commitment to customers in helping them travel with confidence and additional ease of mind," says Adel Al Ali, the airline's group chief executive.

How do you claim it?

Passengers diagnosed with Covid-19 during their travel must contact Air Arabia's Covid-19 global assistance cover team on 04 564 6990, or via WhatsApp on +66 65 121 2025, to claim the cover. Customers can also email the team at covid19assistance@tuneprotect.com.

The medical cover does not include the cost of PCR tests, and does not apply to customers who have travelled to their country of residence.

Travellers booking tickets on any Air Arabia flight can take a Covid-19 PCR test at a cost of Dh150. This can be done at NMC Hospitals in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.

What does it cover?

The insurance is valid for passengers who already booked Value or Extra fares with Air Arabia Sharjah between September 20 and September 30, for departures September 30.

It also applies to passengers who booked Value or Extra tickets with Air Arabia Abu Dhabi between September 23 and September 30 for travel until September 30.

A health worker holds a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab at the Covid-19 test center at Charles de Gaulle airport, operated by Airport de Paris, in Roissy, France, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. The European Union’s battered aviation industry may soon get some relief from the confusingly wide range of travel curbs across the continent, as the bloc’s governments seek agreement on a common threshold for imposing restrictions. Photographer: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg — The cover does not include the cost of a PCR test. Bloomberg

Customers who booked tickets with either branch of the airline for travel between October 1 and Thursday, December 31, are covered, regardless of the fare booked.

Under the airline's cover, passengers who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 can claim $50 per day that they have to spend in quarantine, up to a maximum of 14 days. Medical treatment related to the coronavirus will be covered up to the amount of $20,000. It does not cover the cost of mandatory quarantine imposed by countries for people who do not have Covid-19.

The news follows similar announcements by Emirates and Etihad, both of which offer passengers diagnosed with the coronavirus free medical cover.