Emirates airline will pay medical expenses if passengers catch COVID-19 while travelling
Emirates will cover its passengers' medical expenses and quarantine costs if they catch COVID-19 while travelling with them.
The airline, which is based in Dubai but flies to destinations including Australia, has announced it will pay the costs of passengers flying in any class of travel, to any destination, if they're diagnosed with the virus while away from home.
They say the move is to boost confidence in international travel.
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A passenger from an Emirates plane walks through a disinfectant tunnel to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus upon arrival at Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport, Iran, Friday, July 17, 2020. The first Emirates flight arrived in Iran after nearly five months of suspensions. AP Photo/Vahid Salemi
"The airline will cover medical expenses of up to approximately $245,000 and quarantine costs of approximately per day for 14 days, should they be diagnosed with COVID-19 during their travel," Emirates said in a statement.
However, the move won't benefit most Australians.
Australian travellers are still banned from all but essential journeys overseas, and need special permission to leave the country.
An Emirates jet waits on the tarmac at Melbourne Airport last December. Paul Rovere
Citizens and permanent residents returning home can fly into Australia but need to quarantine in a hotel at the cost of around $3000, depending on which state they arrive and whether they have the virus or not.
Temporary residents can leave, but would not be allowed to return without an exemption, meaning tourists cannot come on holiday.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said widespread international travel is unlikely until a vaccine is developed, even as other countries around the world start to open up.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Group Chairman and Chief Executive, said: "We know people are yearning to fly as borders around the world gradually re-open, but they are seeking flexibility and assurances should something unforeseen happen during their travel.
"Emirates has worked hard to put in place measures at every step of the customer journey to mitigate risk of infection, and we have also revamped our booking policies to offer flexibility.
"We are now taking it to the next level, by being the first in the industry to offer our customers free global cover for COVID-19 medical expenses and quarantine costs should they incur these costs during their travel."
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