Etihad to Resume Flights to 15 Destinations from Mid-July, including Cairo In Africa [IATA Podcast Enclosed]

Etihad is set to add 15 new cities to its flight schedule from Thursday, July 16, meaning it will fly to 40 destinations across the globe next month.

Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

The airline will operate inbound and outbound flights to several new destinations across Europe, the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East.

Flights to seven destinations in India make up part of the new flight schedule published on the airline’s website. This includes services to Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi. To Europe, the airline is adding flights to five cities, including Manchester, Munich and Istanbul.

Regionally, Etihad will begin flying to Amman in Jordan and Cairo, Egypt. The UAE’s national airline is also set to resume flights from Abu Dhabi to the Maldives. This coincides with tourism reopening in the Indian Ocean archipelago on Wednesday, July 15.

“From 16 July, subject to the lifting of international restrictions and the reopening of individual markets, Etihad Airways plans to expand its current network to cover over 40 global destinations. These will include major gateways in the Middle East, North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia,” confirmed an Etihad spokesperson.

Etihad will resume flights to these destinations from Thursday, July 16:

  • Amman   
  • Cairo
  • Dusseldorf
  • Istanbul
  • Manchester
  • Munich
  • Belgrade
  • Bengaluru
  • Kozhikode
  • Mumbai
  • Chennai
  • Hyderabad
  • Kochi
  • Delhi
  • Male

Negative test needed to enter Abu Dhabi airport from other emirates

The new schedule means that Etihad will now be flying to 40 cities worldwide: all routes have received approval from the UAE government.

Passengers are reminded to check the latest travel advice and regulations before booking a flight.

“All travellers must ensure that they meet the required entry, health and quarantine regulations set by the UAE authorities, and those at their destination,” said an Etihad spokesperson.

People flying into Abu Dhabi must have a valid UAE resident visa and ICA approval number before they can book travel.

Etihad’s website originally stated that passengers travelling to Abu Dhabi International Airport from Dubai or other emirates would not need a Covid-19 test to reach the airport. This advice has since been updated and all travellers now need a negative test before they can cross the Abu Dhabi border. “If you are travelling between emirates to reach the airport, you must prove that you have tested negative for Covid-19 within the past 48 hours,” confirmed Etihad.

Online check-in resumes

Etihad has also resumed its online check-in services. Travellers can use this service to check in and select a seat up to 30 hours ahead of a flight.

Some seats will appear unavailable to allow Etihad to follow social distancing guidelines. Travellers can also request seats upon arrival at the airport: check-in at the airport opens three hours ahead of flight times.

Previously, Etihad had suspended online check-in to allow staff to allocate seats to ensure social distancing on flights.

Emirates has recently reopened routes to 48 cities across the world and low-cost carrier Flydubai is taking bookings for flights to 24 destinations.

TBS Africa supports the WTTC’s #BendOurTrend Campaign for Africa

TBS Africa, a training, coaching and support organization for sustainable travel, tourism and hospitality in Africa, has joined the #BendOurTrend campaign and has submitted commitment to promote the campaign for climate friendly travel for the African Continent.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in collaboration with SUNx Malta, has launched a Climate Resilience campaign called “BEND OUR TREND”. This initiative was launched on the just celebrated World Environment Day on Saturday, 5th June

Led by a 90-second animated video, the campaign is designed to encourage Travel & Tourism companies and communities to:

1. Adopt Climate Friendly Travel – Low carbon, linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and consistent with the Paris 1.5 trajectory.

2. Create Climate Neutral Ambition Plans and file these on the SUNx Malta UNFCCC-linked Registry.

With the support of Malta’s Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection, Hon. Julia Farrugia Portelli, who has declared her country to be a global centre of Climate Friendly Travel, we are deploying tools to help the entire Travel & Tourism sector in its essential transformation to a 2050 Paris 1.5 trajectory.

Minister Farrugia Portelli said:

“Our commitment to Climate Friendly Travel is even more important in a world where we need to plan our post-COVID19 future to also respond to the existential Climate Crisis – the effects of which are already upon us. Malta is a strong supporter of the Paris Climate Agreement and the EU Green Deal: through our work with SUNx Malta we will help bring Travel & Tourism to the table.”

Gloria Guevarra, President & CEO, WTTC said:

“This is another important step, working with SUNx Malta to encourage the Travel & Tourism sector to support the Paris Climate Agreement, in line with our long-standing engagement with UNFCCC to achieve Climate Neutrality by 2050. The present COVID-19 crisis has highlighted more than ever, the importance of ensuring sustainable Travel & Tourism as a key enabler to future recovery and growth. WTTC members are committed to play a leadership role.”

For SUNx Malta Professor Geoffrey Lipman, its President, and Leslie Vella, Chairman:

“We will provide support tools, underpinning the Registry and train young smart graduates, together with the Institute of Tourism Studies, Malta (ITS), to assist in strategic low carbon transformation. We are proud to work with a growing number of SDG-17 Partners to share innovation, strategic planning, visibility, education and training.

In addition to WTTC, other partners included in the launch include the Ministry for Tourism and Consumer Protection, Malta Tourism Authority, Institute of Tourism Studies, Sustainable First, Green Travel Maps, Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, and LUX* Hotels & Resorts.

For more details on the #BendOurTrend campaign, please see https://www.thesunprogram.com/registry

SUNx Malta 2020 Message
SUNx Malta is a legacy for the late Maurice Strong, father of Sustainable Development: its goal is to advance Climate Friendly Travel ~ measured: green: 2050 proof. SUNx Malta President, Geoffrey Lipman, is former Assistant Secretary General UNWTO; President WTTC; Executive Director IATA.
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