Etihad Airways will include a Covid-19 test in the price of tickets for UAE customers departing from Abu Dhabi until the end of the year.
The national airline will offer all passengers flying out of the UAE capital the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test at Life Medical Diagnostic Centres around the country as part of their airfare.
Etihad's offer is not available, however, on flights departing Abu Dhabi for China. Passengers bound for China must organise a PCR test at a Seha facility, with the test taken within 48 hours of departure.
All travellers are currently required to present negative test results in order to board Etihad flights.
The price of PCR testing will be included in all tickets booked by passengers between Thursday, October 1 and Thursday, December 31. Tests can be taken up to 96 hours ahead of a flight's departure time, while First and Business Class passengers have the option to take the test from their own homes.
“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," says Dr Nadia Bastaki, Etihad's vice president of medical services.
"This is one further step in the efforts being made by Etihad to provide a professional, secure and protected travel experience at every stage of their journey with us.”
The Life Medical Diagnostic Centre network has the capacity to handle 40,000 tests a day, according to chief executive Hosam Fouad.