The second-largest airline in the UAE, Etihad Airways has been awarded the Diamond status in the inaugural ‘APEX Health Safety, powered by SimpliFlying’ audit, for its efforts in ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness and sanitization.
The award targets to re-build confidence in passengers regarding air travel by creating a global standard for health and safety measures. The judging panel took into consideration the implementation of COVID-19 prevention measures across the customer journey.
APEX Health Safety and SimpliFlying declared the first twelve COVID-19 certified airlines through an audit and review process which spans across various categories including testing, tracing, on-the-ground procedures, in-flight measures, and co-branded partnerships that further reveals airline product safety integrity.
Terry Daly Executive Director Guest Experience, Brand & Marketing Etihad
“2020 brought tremendous challenges to the aviation industry, and the Diamond status is testament to the strength of Etihad’s health and safety credentials and response to the pandemic. Etihad has demonstrated its resilience and designed industry-leading measures to combat COVID-19, including the Etihad Wellness program. Etihad is the only airline in the world to make COVID-19 testing mandatory before every flight, and since August 2020, 100 percent of our guests have tested negative before they fly.”
Commenting on this achievement, Shashank Nigam, CEO of SimpliFlying stated that, “Etihad Airways has raised the bar for health safety standards in the industry by initiatives such as Wellness Ambassadors, free PCR COVID-19 tests and using AI to identify high-risk passengers at its hub in Abu Dhabi. Taking such hospital-grade measures in ensuring health safety goes a long way in bolstering trust among travelers.”
Etihad also provides complimentary COVID-19 wellness insurance to all guests which further proves the airline group’s commitment to passenger safety and wellbeing.
Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX)
One of the world’s largest non-profit international airline associations, the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) is dedicated to improving passenger experience with the support of major airlines and valued supplier over the past 42 years. APEX reinvests all of its resources to serving its members, strengthening the worldwide airline industry, advancing thought-leadership, strengthening business opportunities, developing global initiatives, setting key airline standards and highlighting well-deserved recognition across the industry.
SimpliFlying
SimpliFlying is a global leader in aviation strategy, marketing and innovation. Since its initiation in 2008, the company has worked with more than 100 airlines and airports worldwide. With the outbreak of COVID-19, SimpliFlying has focused on rebuilding trust in travel through biosafety measures, testing and “trace & track” measures.
