Emirates has expanded its Covid-19 insurance offer with additional multi-risk travel cover for all customers who buy a ticket from 1 December.

The insurance is free to customers and includes up to $500,000 emergency medical expense cover; and trip cancellation cover.

The airline said the insurance cover, a step-up from the Covid-19 cover it introduced in July, ‘is designed to provide all Emirates passengers a truly unique offer for stress-free and hassle-free travel’.

The airline says it is the ‘first of its kind in the airline and travel insurance industry’.

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

It is provided by insurance company AIG.

Emirates Chairman and Chief Executive Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said: “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.

Cover includes:

Out-of-country emergency medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation up to US$500,000, valid for Covid-19 (contracted during the trip) and other medical emergencies while travelling abroad.

Trip Cancellation up to US$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.

Trip Cancellation or Curtailment up to US$7,500 if the school year is extended due to Covid-19 beyond the departure date, and the traveller or a relative (as defined in the policy) is a full-time teacher, full-time employee, or a student at a primary or secondary school.

Trip Curtailment up to US$7,500 for non-refundable trip costs and additional costs to return to their country of residence if the traveller or a relative (as defined in the policy) falls critically ill, for instance, contracts COVID-19 while traveling abroad.

Travel Abandonment up to US$7,500 if the traveller fails a COVID-19-related test or medical screening at the airport and is required to abandon the trip.

US$150 per day per person, for up to 14 consecutive days if, while outside of their country of residence, the traveller tests positive for COVID-19, and if they are unexpectedly placed into a mandatory quarantine outside their country of residence by a governmental body.

Jeff Rutledge, CEO of AIG Travel, said: “We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Emirates and we are excited to work with them to tailor this product to meet the needs of Emirates customers worldwide.

“Our hope is to help alleviate some of the concerns travellers may have when planning travel during this time.”

Similar to other multi-risk travel insurance products, Emirates’ cover also has provisions for personal accidents during travel, winter sports cover, loss of personal belongings, and trip disruptions due to unexpected air space closure, travel recommendations or advisories.

Customers do not need to register or fill in any forms before they travel.