Emirates Airlines has become the world’s first airline to cover passenger medical expenses and quarantine costs if they were to contract COVID-19 during their trip.

The airline will pay medical expenses up to $173,000 and quarantine costs of up to $100 a day for 14 days, should they be diagnosed with the coronavirus during their travel, while away from home.

The airline program will be available to all customers, at no extra cost, from now until October 31, 2020. It’s valid for 31 days from the moment they fly the first leg of their trip, so passengers can continue to have the benefit even if they travel onwards from their Emirates destination.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates group chairman and chief executive, said in a press release:

“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.”