Luxury pyjamas are so last year in the world of premium inflight amenities. COVID-19 has made face masks the new must-have item. Etihad appears to have set the bar with the launch of a new fashion-forward snood style face mask.
First and Business class passengers will receive a soft reusable snood made out of a lightweight, breathable and stretchy jersey fabric. This should make it comfortable to wear for extended periods of time on long flights.
The science inside the snood
The snoods have been treated with MicrobeBARRIER™. This is an antimicrobial treatment. It is laboratory tested and proven to reduce the presence of germs in fabrics.
The snood design is flexible. It can be worn around the neck like a scarf. However, when close to others it can be pulled up over your mouth and nose to protect yourself and those nearby.
The snoods are washable and reusable so we may start to see them around Abu Dhabi as flights ramp up over the autumn.
Economy passengers on Etihad flights receive a Wellness Kit which includes a regular face mask, gloves and hand gel.
Etihad Wellness
The launch of the new face masks is a part of the Etihad Wellness initiative in response to COVID-19. The airline has rethought the entire passenger experience from beginning to end to put in place anti-COVID-19 measures.
The introduction of Etihad’s specially trained Wellness Ambassadors is the most distinctive element of that response. The role of the Ambassadors is to answer passenger queries and share tips on staying safe while travelling with Etihad.
In addition, Wellness Ambassadors are responsible for ensuring the new health and hygiene regulations are being fully observed.
The Ambassadors are available online 24/7 via live chat, at the airport and onboard.
Why I’m optimistic about the future of air travel
There is a lot of pessimism about the future of air travel around at the moment. You can easily find doom and gloom about airline bankruptcies, aircraft retirements and widespread cost-cutting.
However, that is not my view. While things are undeniably difficult at the moment there is much to be optimistic about when it comes to the outlook for air travel. The launch of Etihad’s new face masks is just one more example of the exciting wave of innovation spreading across the industry.
Ticket flexibility is becoming the new normal. Check-in and boarding procedures are increasingly contactless. Emirates is now including free COVID-19 cover with every booking.
The response to COVID-19 has sparked an unprecedented wave of change. Air travel is on track to be safer, more comfortable and possibly more convenient than ever before. I can’t wait to start flying again.
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You can expect lots of information about Etihad Guest as well as Skywards, the loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai. I also plan to share my thoughts on the best credit cards for points and miles earning in the UAE.