Emirates has been rated the safest airline in the world in its response to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Safe Travel Barometer, a B2B initiative by Safe Travel Technologies, an independent subsidiary of the VIDEC travel industry advisory and consulting firm.
The airline, which introduced standards in May to safeguard passengers against transmission of SARS-CoV-2, achieved top-ranking status among more than 230 airlines, with a ‘Safe Travel Score’ of 4.4 out of 5.0. The score, according to Safe Travel Technologies, is based on an independent audit of 26 health and safety parameters evaluating safety protocols, traveller convenience and service excellence announced by airlines.
The Safe Travel Barometer rating mechanism considers safety measures and hygiene standards across all touchpoints of a traveller’s journey, and found that at every step of the journey, Emirates spared no effort to prioritise the care, health and safety of its customers, employees and communities.
Enhanced biosafety measures taken by the airline include the distribution of complimentary hygiene kits, protective barriers at check-in desks and immigration counters, personal protective equipment, and new safety protocols for cabin crew and airport employees in customer-facing roles, and elevated aircraft cleaning procedures including the frequent cleaning and disinfecting of aircraft lavatories every 45 minutes during flights, amongst many other measures.
Emirates has also led the way in traveller convenience, which was another sub-category considered by the Safe Travel Barometer. The airline was first in the industry to offer its customers free Covid-19 insurance cover to help them travel with more confidence, knowing that medical expenses of up to EUR 150,000 and quarantine costs of EUR 100 per day for 14 days will be covered if they are diagnosed with Covid-19 during their travel, while they are away from home. Emirates’ booking policies also offer customers flexibility to plan their travel, with options to change their travel dates or extend their ticket validity for up to two years. In addition, the airline launched initiatives to help its Emirates Skywards members retain their tier status and introduced new ways for them to earn and spend their Miles.
The Safe Travel Barometer was launched in 2020 to monitor global traveller health and safety measures, traveller convenience initiatives and the overall traveller experience, all of which influence travel decisions and journeys during a pandemic.
Safe Travel Barometer is a B2B solution by Safe Travel Technologies, an independent subsidiary of VIDEC, a travel industry advisory and consulting firm. The coverage includes more than 2,000 companies across 10 industry categories, 50 parameters, and traveller arrival information on more than 80 destinations.
