Etihad lands in Cuba for the first time

The 21-hour repatriation flight took Cuban nationals home from Abu Dhabi

Etihad Airways has operated its first ever flight to Cuba.

The national airline of the UAE flew from Abu Dhabi to Havana this week, for a repatriation flight that helped Cuban nationals return home.

The Etihad Boeing 777-300ER touched down in Havana after a 21 hour and 25 minute journey from Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Etihad

Taking off from Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad pilots flew the Boeing 777-300 jet for 21 hours and 25 minutes to land at Jose Marti International Airport, just outside Cuba's capital. It's the first time that the airline has ever flown to the island nation in the Caribbean Sea.

Passengers on board observed social distancing measures and wore face masks and gloves throughout the flight, while Etihad crew wore personal protective equipment during flight services.

Cuba has now been added to a growing list of destinations to which Etihad has flown to for the first time during the coronavirus pandemic.

Including Havana, the airline has now flown to 32 cities around the world that are not part of its regular network. These include Bogota, Larnaca, Auckland, Addis Ababa, Harare and Nouakchott.

The charter flight to Cuba is one of more than 2,500 flights that Etihad has piloted to 101 cities since airports in the UAE closed to passengers flights on March 24.

The airline has also launched a transfer service linking 20 cities in Europe, Asia and Australia, via Abu Dhabi, with flights commencing on Wednesday, June 10.