Etihad Airways has collaborated with Austrian-based healthcare technology company Medicus AI and launched a COVID-19 risk-assessment tool to help the travellers in making a well-thought decision about their trips across the world in current circumstances. Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, headquartered at Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi.

Powered by Medicus AI’s technology, the COVID-19 self-assessment tool asks a set of 22 questions to Etihad guests which takes less than five minutes to complete. Responding to the questions will allow the guests to evaluate the probability of having contracted the COVID-19 virus before they plan their journey with the airline. It will also provide health and travel advisories and recommendations to the guests. The self-assessment test is based on the guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and questions are updated every day according to the latest rules issued by the international body.

Speaking over the development, Etihad Airways Chief Digital Officer Frank Meyer said that the airline is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the guests who choose to travel with Etihad. He added that health and safety have become major factors impacting the travel decisions of the people in the wake of the ongoing pandemic crisis.

"As flying operations begin to resume globally, we want to empower our guests to make informed decisions on travel. Partnering with Medicus AI on this innovative new tool is just one of the ways we are adapting our operations and guest experience to meet the new demands placed on the travel industry as a result of COVID-19," Frank Meyer said.

Medicus AI CEO Dr.Baher Al Hakim also stated that they feel proud to support Etihad Airways in their efforts to ensure the safety of its passengers and crew as the world returns to normalcy.

"Our initial efforts at the start of the pandemic were to help provide assessment and monitoring tools, and as needs shift, our efforts have evolved to help our partners bring people back to their day-to-day life in a safe manner," Al Hakim added.

As per a statement released by Etihad Airways, the COVID-19 self-assessment tool is available to guests on Etihad.com as of now. It will soon be launched on Etihad Airways mobile application on the Apple iOS, Android, and Huawei platforms. Furthermore, the tool will be accessible in English, along with other languages such as Arabic, French, German, and Portuguese, which will be upgraded in phases.

In view of the ongoing global health crisis, UAE's Etihad Airways has been taking adequate steps and investing in innovative solutions to ensure the health and safety of its employees and guests. Recently, the airline announced trials of COVID-19 triage and contactless technology at Abu Dhabi International Airport to facilitate smooth and safe functioning of its operations.