Etihad to keep repatriating Aussies stranded in the UK despite UAE ban

Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Etihad has doubled down on its commitment to Aussies stranded abroad, as the UK suspends flights operating through the UAE.

The UAE, along with Burundi and Rwanda, were added to the UK’s red list on Friday, preventing travel to the UK from those destinations in an attempt to stop the spread of the South African variant of COVID-19.

Despite these restrictions, Etihad said it will continue to operate for passengers permitted to depart the UK for travel to Sydney and Melbourne.

As a result, all flights departing the UK remain unaffected and will operate as scheduled, keeping a vital link between Europe and Australia open for urgent travel.

“As an international airline committed to serving Australia’s travel needs, helping to keep families connected and repatriate Australians stranded abroad has been a priority since the start of this crisis,” said Sarah Built, vice president for Australia and South Asia at Etihad.

“Operating on the front lines, we are working to assist passengers on a daily basis who have been left unable to return home or reunite with their families.

“Despite the challenges we face, we remain firmly committed to the Australian market and want to assure our guests we will continue to fly to Australia, supporting them to return home as best we can.

“While we do everything we can to accommodate our guests, we do comply with the Australian government mandate to significantly limit passenger arrivals per flight allowed to disembark at Sydney and Melbourne airports.”

The airline has been flying vital cargo to London and Manchester, positioning the aircraft to pick up passengers who wish to depart and allow them to return to Australia, within the federal government’s mandated passenger caps.

As per UK government advice, British and Irish nationals and third-country nationals with residence rights in the UK can only travel internationally when they have a legally permitted reason to leave home. If travellers are visiting the UK, they may return home.

Etihad is working closely with guests who have been impacted by the restrictions on flights to the UK to notify them of the changes to their itineraries and rearrange travel plans.

Latest News

  • Cruise

P&O rescues Rotary volunteers after collapse of Air Vanuatu

P&O Cruises Australia has answered a plea for help from a group of young Australian Rotary volunteers, stranded in Vanuatu following the collapse of Air Vanuatu. The students, many of them teenagers from Albury, NSW, were volunteering for a youth project run by the Hive Rotary Club Australia when the airline abruptly cancelled all flights, […]

  • Destinations

Intrepid continues expansions with launch of first DMC in Jordan

Intrepid has increased its presence in the Middle East with the opening of its first destination management company in Jordan. Based in Amman, the local team will operate Intrepid’s range of nine experiential small group tours in Jordan from this summer, with a view to expanding the range for 2025 and beyond. Zina Bencheikh, managing […]

  • Appointments

Minor hotels appoints Puneet Dhawan to key Asia role

Global hotel owner and operator Minor Hotels has appointed Puneet Dhawan as head of Asia as the group plots its growth in Asia and India. From July, Dhawan will be responsible for the performance of all Minor Hotels properties in Asia, working in close collaboration with the Minor Hotels senior leadership team and will report […]

  • Appointments

Abercrombie & Kent and Crystal appoint Evon Ler to director of sales, Asia

Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group have announced that Evon Ler will join them in the new role of director of sales, Asia. She will work closely with Tony Archbold (VP, Sales, APAC, Crystal) and Susan Haberle (VP, Sales & Partnerships, APAC, A&K) with trade support across the region. Ler comes to the A&K family with more […]