'We couldn't be prouder': Etihad pays tribute to staff working during the pandemic
16 April, 2020
The skies might be quieter than they have been around in decades as the coronavirus outbreak continues to halt travel plans, but there are still lots of airline staff clocking on every day.
And it's those staff who form the focus of Etihad's new video.
The UAE's national airline has generated an homage to its employees working through the entire pandemic, both on the floor and in the air.
"At least for the present time, the world as we realize it has changed," the one . 5 minute video, which was published on Wednesday evening, says.
"Families all over the world stay in the home to safeguard communities and the ones they love. But with compassion and care, the incredible team, inspired by the leadership of Abu Dhabi, are working night and day to keep carefully the world connected."
While regular passenger flights from the UAE remain suspended according to a directive from the General Civil Aviation Authority, both Etihad and Emirates have launched special repatriation flights to greatly help travellers stranded in the UAE return to their home country.
It is the personnel making those repatriation flights possible, along with those keeping essential services going, that Etihad commended.
"From cargo businesses to pilots and crew operating special passenger flights and teams on the floor," the video detailed, "delivering essential supplies such as for example food and medicine, bringing people home and reuniting them with themselves.
"Our front-line teams are made of extraordinary persons and we couldn’t be prouder. They are the first type of defence for the UAE, protecting our communities and keeping us safe."
The video featured shots of Etihad staff wearing protective masks and gloves because they went about their day-to-day work.
Passenger flights in and from the UAE are grounded until Tuesday, April 21, with exemptions for select repatriation flights.
Etihad this week added services to Brussels, Dublin, London Heathrow, Tokyo Narita and Zurich to greatly help passengers return to their home country.
The airline also continues to operate special flights to Amsterdam, Jakarta, Manila, Melbourne, Seoul Incheon and Singapore.
The special flights, which started on Sunday, April 5, are one-way only, and on return journeys, the airlines have already been repatriating Emirati citizens stuck abroad, and bringing in fresh produce and cargo.
Source: www.thenational.ae