Etihad to resume passenger flights on May 16
25 April, 2020
Etihad Airways, the national airline for the UAE, has announced it will resume regular passenger flights from Saturday, May 16.
The Abu Dhabi airline is working closely with the UAE government and global aviation authorities to restart functions with a lower schedule of flights.
Etihad made the announcement on its website stating that it will launch a fresh Vienna route, commencing Wednesday, July 1. The National has already reached out to Etihad for information on what routes are set to relaunch on, may 16.
"Our aim is to slowly but surely go back to a fuller schedule when it really is safe for us to take action, but also for now, our flights remain suspended, and will return on 16 May," the airline announced.
Etihad announces additional passenger flights from Abu Dhabi to 14 cities
Until May 15, Etihad is operating special repatriation passenger flights from Abu Dhabi to 14 destinations.
These flights give foreign nationals in the UAE the opportunity to travel out of the country, and invite Etihad to transport cargo such as for example perishables and medical supplies. Return flights are also repatriating UAE nationals back to Abu Dhabi.
Destinations range between several European cities to Chicago, Manila, Melbourne and South Korea, with departure dates between now and mid-May.
Here's a breakdown of the additional special services, though scheduling remains subject to change:
Europe
- Amsterdam: Saturday, April 25, Monday, April 27, Wednesday, April 29, Saturday, May 2, Wednesday, May 6, Saturday, May 9, Wednesday, May 13
- Barcelona: Thursday, April 30, Thursday, May 7, Sunday, May 10, Thursday, May 14
- Brussels: Fridays and Sundays from Friday, April 24 until Friday, May 15
- Frankfurt: Saturday, April 25, Sunday, May 3, Sunday, May 10
- London Heathrow: Saturday, April 25, Wednesday, April 29, Thursday, April 30, Saturday, May 2, Wednesday, May 6, Saturday, May 9, Wednesday, May 13
- Zurich: Fridays and Sundays from Sunday, April 24 until Friday, May 15
- North America
Chicago: Saturday, April 25
Asia
- Jakarta: Thursdays from April 30 until May 14
- Kuala Lumpur: Saturday, May 2, Saturday, May 9
- Manila: Tuesday, April 28, Thursday, April 30, Friday, May 1, Tuesday, May 5, Thursday, May 7, Friday, May 8, Tuesday, May 12, Thursday, May 14, Friday, May 15
- Melbourne: Tuesday, April 28, Friday, May 1, Tuesday, May 5, Friday, May 8, Tuesday, May 12, Friday, May 15
- Seoul Incheon: Saturday, April 25, Tuesday, April 28, Thursday, April 30, Saturday, May 2, Tuesday, May 5, Thursday, May 7, Saturday, May 9, Tuesday, May 12, Thursday, May 14
- Singapore: Tuesday, April 28, Tuesday, May 5, Tuesday, May 12
- Tokyo Narita: Monday, April 27
Travellers can book flights so online or by calling 600 555 666 (UAE) or through an area or online travel agency.
Flights to Frankfurt will operate on Saturday, April 25, Monday, April 27 and Wednesday, April 29. A flight to Jakarta will be operated on Sunday, April 26; to Johannesburg on Saturday, April 25; to Lagos on Sunday, April 26; and Madrid on Wednesday, April 29.
The airline will operate five services to London Heathrow, on Thursday, April 23, Friday, April 24, Sunday, April 26, Tuesday, April 28 and Thursday, April 30. A flight to Tunis is also scheduled for Thursday, April 30. Manila flights will be operated on Friday, April 24, Tuesday, April 28 and Thursday, April 30.
Those who desire to happen to be Johannesburg, Lagos and Tunis must contact their respective embassies or consulates in the UAE. For all the flights, passengers can book on emirates.com, selecting the one-way option, or via their travel agent.
Only citizens of the destination countries, and those who meet the entry requirements of the destination will be permitted to board. As on other repatriation flights, the airline will provide a modified inflight service, and passengers must apply social distancing guidelines throughout their journey and wear their own masks when at the airport and on board the aircraft.
Travellers should reach Dubai International airport Terminal 3 for check-in, three hours before departure.
No start date for commercial passenger flights
Emirates has yet to verify a start date for resuming commercial passenger flights.
The Dubai airline recently suspended online reservations on some passenger flights resulting in speculation that it would not resume flights until Wednesday, July 1 - the date that reservations currently reopen.
Emirates told The National that the problem, however, remains totally changeable.
“Currently a few of our flights are available for booking, nevertheless the situation remains dynamic and these flight services could be at the mercy of change,” revealed an Emirates spokesperson.
“We try to provide our customers with as much notice as possible should there be any changes,” they added.
Source: www.thenational.ae
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