Etihad will start operating limited flights from Abu Dhabi to 70 cities on March 6.
Starting on March 6, 2026, Etihad Airways intends to resume a small number of commercial flights from Abu Dhabi. While keeping an eye on local airspace circumstances, the airline will run a few routes to key cities in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Following recent delays to regional airspace, Etihad Airways will gradually resume operations to and from Abu Dhabi by starting a limited number of commercial flights on March 6, 2026.
Only a few routes are currently being restored by the airline. Until further notice, all further scheduled commercial services are suspended.
The airline claims that after conducting safety and security assessments and closely collaborating with authorities, the decision was made. Only when conditions are safe will flights take place.
As the airline works through the backlog, passengers with existing reservations may soon have their itineraries transferred to these flights.
Cities Covered by Etihad's Restricted Flight Program
Etihad intends to run flights from Abu Dhabi to the following locations between March 6 and 19:
Ahmedabad, Addis Ababa, Amsterdam, Athens, Atlanta, Bangkok, Barcelona, Beijing, Bengaluru, Boston, and Brussels
Casablanca, Cairo
Chiang Mai, Chicago, Colombo, Copenhagen, Delhi, Denpasar (Bali), Dublin, and Dresden
Geneva, Frankfurt, and Hanoi
Hyderabad, Islamabad, Istanbul, Hong Kong
Jakarta
Jeddah, Karachi, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Krabi, Kuala Lumpur, and Lahore
Heathrow in London
Madrid Malé
Manchester
Manila
Medina
Melbourne
Milan (Malpensa)
Sheremetyevo, Moscow
Munich
Mumbai
Muscat
Nairobi
Paris, Phnom Penh, New York (JFK)
Prague, Phuket, and Riyadh
Rome
Incheon, or Seoul
Singapore and the Seychelles
Sydney's St. Petersburg
The Taipei
Tokyo, Toronto, Thiruvananthapuram
Crucial: Vienna, Warsaw, Washington, Zurich
There won't be daily flights to every destination.
Regional airspace conditions and operational approvals continue to apply to all services.
Before heading to the airport, travelers should check the status of their flight.
Things Travelers Should Do Prior to Traveling to the Airport
The airline is advising travelers to exercise caution when they arrive at the airport if they will be traveling soon.
Travelers should only go to Abu Dhabi airport if they have been informed by Etihad or have a confirmed reservation on one of the reopened flights.
Prior to departing for the airport, travelers must to:
Visit the Etihad website to see the status of their flight.
Verify that the contact information in their reservation is accurate.
Keep an eye out for updates from the airline by email or SMS.
Options for Rebooking and Refunds for Affected Passengers
Additionally, Etihad has provided passengers impacted by the disruption with flexible options.
Free Rebooking
Until May 15, 2026, travelers with Etihad tickets issued on or before February 28, 2026, with travel dates up to March 21, 2026, are eligible for free rebooking on Etihad-operated flights.
Complete Refunds
Travelers who are planned to depart on or before March 10th can also request a complete refund via Etihad's website or their travel agent in addition to the free rebooking option.
It is important to note that in order to make modifications, travelers who made their reservations through a travel agency should speak with their agent directly.
The situation is still being closely watched.
According to Etihad, the timetable may continue to alter as circumstances evolve.
The airline is keeping an eye on regional airspace conditions and will notify passengers immediately if any changes are required.
The safest course of action for travelers organizing vacations in the upcoming weeks is straightforward: before leaving for the airport, check the status of your flight and pay attention to airline messages.
