Etihad Airways has provided an update from its CEO Tony Douglas (see below) on its current and planned operations as COVID-19 travel restrictions remain in place around the world.
Subject to UAE government-imposed travel restrictions being lifted on passenger travel, Etihad plans to operate a reduced network of scheduled passenger services from 1 May to 30 June, with the aim of gradually returning to a fuller schedule as and when the global situation improves.
Etihad is also continuing to operate a growing schedule of special passenger flights allowing foreign nationals in the UAE the opportunity to travel out of the country, and to carry essential belly-hold cargo such as perishables, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies.
To date, the airline has also repatriated almost 600 UAE nationals on return services.
With 80% of its passenger fleet on the ground, the airline has also embarked on the biggest aircraft maintenance programme in its history.
Etihad Engineering, the group’s Engineering Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) division, is performing maintenance work on 96 passenger aircraft including 29 Airbus A320 and A321s, 10 Airbus A380s, 38 Boeing 787s, and 19 Boeing 777-300ERs.
