Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways will expand its network to serve 58 destinations during July and August, including a number of major global gateways, as it moves towards nearly 45 per cent of its pre-Covid capacity.
Its network expansion follows the easing of travel restrictions by UAE regulatory authorities on outbound and inbound travel for citizens and residents but is subject to the lifting of international restrictions.
The airline’s summer schedule will incorporate more destinations and increased frequencies, and features services to 19 European cities including London, Manchester, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, Madrid, Munich, Paris, Rome and Zurich.
It will fly to four North American cities – Chicago, New York, Toronto and Washington, D.C. – more than 20 destinations in Asia and to Melbourne and Sydney in Australia.
Tony Douglas, group chief executive officer, Etihad Aviation Group, says: “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.”
The UAE is not one of the 15 destinations to which the EU has opened its borders. Nor is it on England’s list of quarantine-exempt travel corridors, meaning returning passengers would need to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival in England even if they only transited in Abu Dhabi.