Abu Dhabi’s Etihad waives flight change fee for Australian residents as bushfires rage

Abu Dhabi airline Etihad Airways has announced that it will waive flight change fees for Australian residents affected by the raging bushfires in the country.

The waivers will apply for travel to or from Australia, Etihad said in a statement.

Etihad currently flies daily to three Australian cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

UAE-based Australians, or those in Australia seeking changes to their Etihad flights as a result of the fire emergency, should contact Etihad guest services, the statement added.

“In addition to passenger fee waivers, the airline will also work in partnership with Emirates Red Crescent to raise funds within the UAE to help support bushfire relief,” the statement added.

In total, some 16,000 Australian nationals live and work in the UAE.

The deadly bushfires in southeastern Australia have killed at least 24 people so far and destroyed more than 5 million hectares of property.