Etihad Airways opens booking for dozen cities

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has opened booking for the UAE residents who are stuck abroad and want to return to the country, Khaleej Times reported on Friday.

The UAE residents can book inbound flights from Amsterdam, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, London Heathrow, Manila, Melbourne, Seoul Incheon, Singapore, Tokyo Narita and Toronto.

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The national carrier said residents must obtain approval through Twajudi Resident service and hold a valid residence visa in order to be accepted for travel to the UAE.  The carrier said all passengers will undertake thermal and PCR testing on arrival in Abu Dhabi and are required to self-isolate for 14 days.

All the local carriers, including Etihad, have been operating repatriation flights from the UAE. Earlier this week, Air Arabia had opened booking for regular return flights to a number of cities across its network.

"Travellers must apply in advance for Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) approval via the UAE Twajudi Resident service, available at www.MoFAIC.gov.ae. When a successful application has been processed, applicants will receive a unique ICA approval number via e-mail which must be provided to Etihad Airways at the time of booking," it said.

To book a flight, passengers with ICA approval should contact the Etihad Airways Contact Centre using the local number which can be found on its website.

"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 customer safety programme and is practicing the highest standards of hygiene at every part of the customer journey," it said.