Picture used for illustrative purpose.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Etihad Airways will launch a number of flights from five Indian cities, allowing eligible UAE residents to return, and for transit to Etihad’s network.

From 10 August, the airline will begin flights from three additional Indian cities for travel to the UAE, as well as from three Pakistani cities, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka for transit passengers to access Etihad’s global network of destinations.

Between 7 to 9 August, the airline will operate services from Chennai, Kochi, Bengaluru, Trivandrum and New Delhi.

From Aug.10, flights will be added from Ahmedabad (for transit only), Hyderabad and Mumbai in India, and Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. Etihad will also operate flights from Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The authorities said holders of valid residency who received full vaccination in the UAE and 14 days have passed since receiving the second dose and carrying vaccination certificates approved by the official authorities in the country will be allowed to enter from those countries.

All of these categories are required to submit a request on the website of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship to obtain the necessary approval. Vaccination certificates approved by authorities in the country should be attached.

A quick PCR test before boarding the plane will apply, in addition to applying the precautionary and preventive measures upon arrival, including quarantine and a PCR test.

Transit passengers from all countries from which transit passengers were previously suspended will be allowed to resume their travel, provided the traveller’s last destination accepts entry with a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the time of departure.

The country’s airports have allocated special lounges for transit passengers while taking all precautionary and preventive measures.

All travellers on Etihad Airways flights are required to wear a face mask throughout their journey.

Exemptions for non vaccinated passengers:

• Holders of golden and silver visas and diplomats.

• Healthcare workers including doctors, nurses and technicians.

• Education sector workers including professors, teachers and students studying in the UAE.

• Government employees.

• Exhibitors and participants who are under the sponsorship of EXPO 2020.

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.