Etihad Airways opens bookings for travel from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh

• India gateways: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Mumbai and Trivandrum, for travel to UAE and transit
• Pakistan gateways: Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, for transit passengers only
• Flights depart Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Colombo, Sri Lanka, for transit passengers only

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Airways has launched a number of flights from eight Indian gateways, allowing eligible UAE residents to return, and for transit to Etihad’s network, as well as from three Pakistani cities, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka for transit passengers to access Etihad’s global network of destinations.

The airline will operate services from Chennai, Kochi, Bengaluru, Trivandrum, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Mumbai in India, as well as Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. Etihad is also operating flights from Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Passengers returning to the UAE must have a valid residency and proof of having received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine within the UAE no less than 14 days before travel. Unvaccinated people in certain categories eligible to return include medical workers, UAE based teachers, students, residents with extenuating circumstances, patients undergoing medical treatment in the UAE and employees who work for federal or local government agencies. These latest categories are in addition to previously exempt categories of UAE nationals, Diplomatic missions, official delegations and Golden residence holders. All passengers will be subject to acceptance and quarantine conditions.

In order to travel, all passengers must have:

• Permission to return through the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship website.
• A negative PCR test –a maximum of 48 hours before their first flight departure time, taken at an approved lab in their origin city and contain a QR code for verification.
• A rapid PCR test taken within four hours of boarding at the airport- Rapid PCR tests must be taken at an airport facility. Any test taken outside of an airport facility will not be accepted. Guests are urged to arrive at the airport at least six hours before their flight to assure that they receive their rapid test results on time.

Upon arrival to the UAE a PCR will be conducted at the airport.

Those wishing to book are advised to visit www.etihad.com to view their options, and to remain informed of the appropriate entry regulations at their end destination. Flights are also available for booking through the mobile app, by calling the Etihad Airways Contact Centre on 1800 1233901 (India), +971 600 555 666 (UAE), or through a local or online travel agency. A list of other local Etihad contact centres is available at etihad.com/contacts.

Etihad continues to follow UAE and international government, regulatory and health authority directives, and is playing its part in helping to limit the spread of COVID-19. The airline has implemented an extensive sanitisation and wellness programme and is practicing the highest standards of hygiene at every part of the customer journey. This includes catering, aircraft and cabin deep-cleaning, check-in, health screening, boarding, inflight, crew interaction, meal service, disembarkation and ground transportation, among others.

More information on the stringent measures being taken by Etihad Airways to provide a healthy and hygienic travel experience is available at www.etihad.com/wellness.

Important note: As a precautionary measure, guests travelling on Etihad Airways flights are required to wear a face mask throughout their journey.