Etihad confirms additional flights to eight countries, including India, Egypt and Germany, starting July 16

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has confirmed that it will operate flights to 15 additional cities starting July 16, taking the total number of destinations to over 40 by the second half of next month.

The new destinations that have been added beginning July 16 are: Bengaluru, Kozhikode, Male, Mumbai, Kochi, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Istanbul, Manchester, Düsseldorf, Munich, Belgrade, Amman and Cairo.

While the Abu Dhabi government said on Monday that UAE residents and visitors who wish to enter Abu Dhabi need a negative Covid-19 test result that is not older than 48 hours, Etihad confirmed that passengers travelling from other emirates within the UAE and making their way to the airport are exempted from this requirement.

Read: UAE residents, visitors need negative Covid-19 test to enter Abu Dhabi

In a statement on its website, the airline said: “If you are travelling between emirates to reach the airport, you will be required to present your booking confirmation or ticket if requested by officials. You do not need a Covid-19 test before you travel to the airport.”

The airline added that the flights to the destinations listed on its website were approved by the UAE Government.

Passengers can check-in online or via the airline’s app up to 30 hours before departure, and the check-in counters will open three hours before the departure.

It is compulsory to wear a mask while at the airport as well as throughout the journey.

Temperature screening will be undertaken at the Abu Dhabi airport and a distance of two metres will be maintained between travellers at all queuing points.

Lounges at the Abu Dhabi airport will remain closed.

The airline noted that inbound travellers must posses a valid UAE resident visa and ICA approval number, without which they will not be permitted to enter the UAE.

When booking the approval, the ICA website will ask for a flight booking reference, but Etihad confirmed that that field can be left blank.

If the ICA application is successful, the applicant will receive a unique ICA approval number, which they will need to present at the check-in counters in foreign countries.

Also, the UAE government said on Sunday that all residents who are returning to the country are required to submit Covid-19 negative test results, conducted not more than 72 hours before departure.

Read: UAE says all returning residents from abroad require Covid-negative test results

Etihad has also said on its website, that they will be required to undertake PCR and thermal testing when they arrive in Abu Dhabi, and will be required to self-isolate for 14 days too.