Etihad invests in passenger wellness

Etihad Airways is the first airline to trial an innovative airport technology that will help identify medically at-risk travellers and this technology is currently being tested at the Abu Dhabi airport. Neerja Bhatia, Etihad Airways’ Vice President, Indian Sub- continent, shares more details.

Hazel Jain

Q How is Etihad ensuring safety for its passengers once international flights resume?

We continue to follow directives given by the UAE and international governments, as well as regulatory and health authorities. On arrival at each destination, our aircraft undergo detailed cleaning, a practice that was already in place prior to the outbreak. On flights deemed low-risk, a general clean and disinfection process will be conducted in Abu Dhabi. For any aircraft arriving from a territory deemed medium or high-risk, or if a suspected case has travelled on the aircraft, Etihad will deep-clean and disinfect the aircraft.

Q What technology is the airline looking to put in place to facilitate touchless travel?

Etihad Airways is the first airline to trial an innovative airport technology that will help identify medically at-risk travellers and this has been undertaken with an Australian company, Elenium Automation. These contactless devices will monitor the temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate of any person using an airport touchpoint such as a check-in or information kiosk, a bag drop facility, security point or the immigration gate. The system will screen every individual, including multiple people on the same booking. This innovative technology is currently being tested at the Abu Dhabi airport.

Q When do you plan to resume India operations?

We are ready to resume operations to key Indian gateways as soon as current travel restrictions are lifted. Currently, Etihad is offering special transfer flights, connecting key cities on its global network. Easy transfer connections via Abu Dhabi are available from Jakarta, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Melbourne, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo to major cities across Europe.

Q Will wellness now be a focus for the airline?

Absolutely! In fact, earlier this month, we launched ‘Etihad Wellness’, a health and hygiene programme and customer guide. As an industry-first initiative, we have introduced specially trained ‘Wellness Ambassadors’ who will provide essential travel health information and care to guests. They will undergo thorough training at the airline’s training facilities in Abu Dhabi and will be able to assist guests by sharing advice on travel well-being, detailing out all the health and safety measures that will be implemented during their journey. Etihad’s Wellness Ambassadors are currently available 24×7 on e-mail, and soon this service will be available as a web-chat option. In the coming weeks, Etihad will also introduce these Wellness Ambassadors at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Once the airline resumes an expanded network of international flights, they will also be available on-board.