NE BUSINESS BUREAU
ABU DHABI (UAE), JULY 8
Etihad Airways on Tuesday announced that it was resuming flights to more destinations after the United Arab Emirates this month eased travel restrictions on residents and citizens. All travel remains subject to the entry and health regulations set by the UAE authorities, and those at the end destination, a release said.
The state-owned airline aims to operate at about 45 percent of its pre-coronavirus capacity by August as airlines across the world ramp up flights.
Etihad said by August it planned to increase its network to up to 58 destinations, including Washington DC, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Dusseldorf and major gateways in the Middle East, North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
The airline was flying to 29 destinations in June, a spokeswoman said.
The carrier has gradually added flights since last month when a suspension on services where passengers stop off in the UAE to change planes, or for refuelling, was lifted.
Dubai on Tuesday reopened its borders to foreign visitors after UAE borders closed in March to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Dubai’s decision to allow foreign visitors has not been implemented elsewhere in the UAE. Dubai’s Emirates is also adding more flights.
Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “We are delighted to announce the gradual expansion of normal scheduled services to more cities across our global network. The easing of restrictions on travel to and from the UAE is an important first step and a great development for Abu Dhabi. By August we aim to operate approximately 45 per cent of our pre-COVID capacity.
“While we have continued to operate a schedule of special passenger, cargo and humanitarian flights over the last few months, the priority is now to build the network back up on markets that have opened up and to provide a secure and hygienic flying environment across the entire guest journey.
“Over the last few months, we have seized every opportunity to improve our processes, review our product offering, and to undertake the biggest fleet maintenance programme in our history. We are tremendously grateful to our customers and partners for their continued loyalty.”
Subject to the applicable government approvals, Etihad’s summer schedule will feature a wider network and increased frequencies to the following destinations from, to, or via Abu Dhabi:
North America: Chicago, New York JFK, Toronto, Washington, D.C.
Europe: Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Belgrade, Brussels, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, Istanbul, London Heathrow, Madrid, Manchester, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Rome, Zurich
Middle East & Africa: Amman, Bahrain, Beirut, Cairo, Casablanca, Kuwait, Muscat, Rabat, Riyadh, Seychelles
Asia: Ahmedabad, Baku, Bangkok, Bengaluru, Chennai, Colombo, Delhi, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Jakarta, Karachi, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Kuala Lumpur, Lahore, Male, Manila, Mumbai, Seoul, Singapore, Thiruvananthapuram, Tokyo
Australasia: Melbourne, Sydney
