In response to a directive from the General Authority for Civil Aviation, Saudi Arabia, to help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus, Etihad Airways has temporarily suspended all flights between Abu Dhabi and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – up to 12 daily flights.
Yesterday (10 March 2020), the airline cancelled a total of seven flights between Abu Dhabi and the Saudi cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Medina, and has advised those passengers who were booked on those flights.
Another four flights, which were en-route to Saudi Arabia at the time of the directive, were permitted to land. When flights arrived in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, nationals of Saudi Arabia were permitted to disembark, but all other passengers remained on the aircraft, which returned to Abu Dhabi. The fourth flight operated to Medina to repatriate Umrah passengers.
In addition to the flight suspensions to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia has also banned Saudi nationals and Saudi residents from travelling to countries including the UAE and on passengers travelling from or transiting through Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria, Italy, Egypt and Korea.
Etihad Airways is working closely with regulatory authorities in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and is continuing to monitor this situation closely.
Passengers impacted by the flight cancellations are reassured that procedures are in place for fare refunds or for flight changes when services resume. Etihad will continue to provide updates on this situation as information becomes available.
Etihad is also allowing one complimentary date or destination change for all flights booked between 8 March and 7 April 2020. Valid for travel from 22 March 2020, the offer is applicable to all fares including Etihad Guest redemptions and Etihad Holiday bookings. Any fare difference arising from the rebooking/rerouting will be applied.
