Update: The airline previously announced it was planning to resume flights from 16th May, but the UAE government is yet to ease any travel restrictions. Etihad is suspending all online sales for flights before 16th June.
Etihad Airways has pushed back its restart date from 16th May to 16th June, when they plan to resume regular passenger flights. Etihad’s flight resumption will depend on the UAE government lifting the restrictions it imposed in March.
Flights in and out of the UAE are currently suspended because of COVID-19, but the Abu Dhabi-based airline is working with the government and regulators to restart operations. You can see a list of proposed schedule here.
A spokesperson for Etihad told The National that their restart date will be subject to the UAE government’s restrictions being lifted.
“To minimise any potential disruption or discomfort to customers, only flexible and refundable fares will be offered after April 29, 2020, for travel between June 16 and August 31, 2020,” an Etihad spokesperson told The National.
Etihad Spokesperson
Emirates have recently updated their schedule, suggesting that they would not resume regular passenger flights until 1st July. Dubai’s airline said the schedule could be updated in the meantime.
In recent weeks both Etihad and Emirates have been operating a number of special repatriation flights and cargo-only services, after all regular passenger flights were suspended by the UAE government.