Etihad passengers flying to these nine countries may need Covid-19 tests

Travellers flying to Sri Lanka, Lebanon and Pakistan are among those that the airline says may need testing

Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Travellers flying from Abu Dhabi to nine countries may need to show negative Covid-19 test results before boarding flights, says Etihad Airways.

The national airline of the UAE has released a list of countries that includes Lebanon, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, in an advisory on its website.

Travel rules are changeable at the moment, so the airline recommends that anyone planning to fly to these destinations check the country requirements before travelling to Abu Dhabi airport, in order to find out if they need to present negative test results.

Those who arrive at the airport without test results when they are required may be denied boarding.

The latest update to Etihad's general travel advice expects passengers to check the rules of the destination country before flying.

Which destinations are included in Etihad's testing advisory? 

Travellers flying from Abu Dhabi to Malaysia will need to show negative Covid-19 test results before flying with Etihad. Unsplash

• Azerbaijan
• Indonesia
• Lebanon
• Malaysia
• Pakistan
• Sri Lanka
• Seychelles
• South Korea
• Thailand

Several countries around the world now require travellers to show negative test results upon arrival. These rules are constantly being updated, and procedures may change between the time of booking a flight and the date of travel, so always double check closer to the date of your flight.

Lebanon, the Seychelles and Sri Lanka require negative test results

Etihad says travellers flying to Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Lebanon may need to take Covid-19 tests before being allowed to board flights. Courtesy Etihad

In Lebanon, travellers coming from countries where polymerase chain reaction testing is available, must now present negative results when they land in Beirut. They will then be tested again at Beirut-Rafik Hariri International Airport and must adhere to home quarantine until receiving their test results. At the time of writing, the rule did not apply to children under 5, but passengers should clarify this before travel.

In the Seychelles, where commercial flights are scheduled to resume on Saturday, August 1, travellers must provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test conducted within 48 hours of boarding. This only applies to visitors on a list of countries considered low to medium risk – the UAE is on this list. All other visitors cannot yet enter the Seychelles.

Sri Lanka is set to reopen to travellers on Saturday, August 1. The country has announced new tourism rules that require passengers to present negative Covid-19 test results upon arrival in Colombo.

According to the latest information from the International Air Transport Association, entry to Azerbaijan requires a negative Covid-19 test certificate issued within 48 hours of a flight. A further test is required on arrival in the country and travellers need to secure a hard copy of their results.

Similar rules are in place in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, where only certain categories of foreign nationals are permitted to enter or transit.

Iata's latest update for Pakistan does not list any requirements that travellers must carry negative Covid-19 test results. Instead, it advises that "a completed International Passenger Health Declaration Form must be presented upon arrival".

Travellers flying to South Korea are required to show a negative result only if they have transited or visited specified countries, says Iata's latest update.

The National has contacted Etihad for further clarification on the situation, which is constantly changing.

Travellers can book at-home tests

Etihad has introduced a Covid-19 self-assessment tool for travellers and is offering at-home PCR tests in partnership with Mediclinic for UAE travellers. Courtesy Etihad

Passengers flying with Etihad who need to take a PCR test before a flight can use the airline's new at-home testing facility. It is in partnership with Mediclinic and allows travellers to book an appointment for the test and receive results before travel.

UAE residents travelling to Abu Dhabi to fly with Etihad must also show a valid negative test result before crossing the border.