By OLUSEGUN KOIKI, Lagos

Emirates Airline said its customers can now plan their travels and fly with even greater assurance and peace of mind, with its latest industry-first initiative to provide expanded, multi-risk travel cover on top of its current COVID-19 cover.

A statement by the media consultant to the airline in Nigeria said that the travel cover, which is provided by AIG Travel is at no additional cost to its customers, and it is the first of its kind in the airline and travel insurance industry.

The statement hinted that the cover was designed to provide all Emirates passengers a truly unique offer for stress-free and hassle-free travel.

This new multi-risk travel insurance and COVID-19 cover, it said would automatically apply to all Emirates tickets purchased from December 1, 2020 and extends to Emirates codeshare flights operated by partner airlines, as long as the ticket number starts with 176.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Chairman said of the initiative: “Emirates was the first airline to offer complimentary global COVID-19 cover for travellers back in July, and the response from our customers has been tremendously encouraging.

“We’ve not rested on our laurels and instead continued to look at how we can offer our customers an even better proposition. We’re very pleased to be able to now provide this new multi-risk travel insurance and COVID-19 cover, which is another industry first, to all our customers.

“We see a strong appetite for travel around the world, especially heading into the winter holidays as people seek warmer climates and family destinations like Dubai. By launching this new multi-risk travel insurance and COVID-19 cover, we aim to give our customers even more confidence in making their travel plans this winter and moving into 2021.”

Emirates customers will be covered when they fly to any destination, in any class of travel. Highlights of the coverage include: Out-of-Country Emergency Medical Expenses & Emergency Medical Evacuation up to $500,000, valid for COVID-19 (contracted during the trip) and other medical emergencies while traveling abroad.

Others are Trip Cancellation up to $7,500 for non-refundable costs if the traveller or a relative (as defined in the policy) is unable to travel because they are diagnosed with COVID-19 before the scheduled trip departure date, or for other named reasons – similar to other comprehensive travel cover products and Travel Abandonment up to $7,500 if the traveller fails a COVID-19-related test or medical screening at the airport and is required to abandon the trip. (Saturday Independent)

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