Etihad resumes flights to Seychelles and Moscow, delays launch to Israel

The airline is also having a 24-hour flash sale on flights to Morocco after the country was added to Abu Dhabi's 'green' list

Etihad will begin flying direct from Abu Dhabi to the Seychelles from March 26. Unsplash

Etihad is set to fly to more destinations this spring. The national airline of the UAE is resuming flights to the Seychelles and to Moscow in March.

Etihad's direct flights to the Seychelles will recommence on March 26. The airline will fly twice weekly to the popular Indian Ocean holiday destination, which is reopening to tourists one day before.

Travellers planning to visit the Seychelles do not need to be vaccinated, but must have a negative Covid-19 test taken 72 hours prior to departure.

Four-hour flights to Mahe will operate via Etihad's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jets and Airbus A320s. Return fares to the island destination start from Dh3,175 ($864).

To the Russian capital, Etihad will fly twice-weekly from Thursday, March 25. Travellers flying to Moscow will go via an Airbus A321 jet, with fares starting from Dh2,585.

Travel to Russia is currently restricted, but citizens and residents, as well as UAE citizens and residents, can visit and no quarantine rules are in place. A negative PCR test is required for all non-Russian visitors.

Neither Russia nor the Seychelles is currently listed on Abu Dhabi's most recent "green list", which allows travellers to visit the UAE capital without quarantine restrictions. The list changes regularly, however, with the next expected update set to take place on Monday, March 22.

Flash sale on flights from Abu Dhabi to Morocco

After Morocco’s recent addition to Abu Dhabi's "green list", Etihad will launch a limited-period Casablanca sale.

Travellers can book to fly from Abu Dhabi to Morocco's largest city, with fares from Dh999.

The 24-hour sale launches at 11am on Monday, with 500 seats available at the promotional rate.

Fares are valid on flights departing between Wednesday, March 24 and Wednesday, June 30. Etihad's flights to Casablanca will operate twice a week via a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

Travellers coming to the UAE from countries listed on Abu Dhabi's "green list" do not need to quarantine upon arrival.

Etihad delays inaugural flights to Israel

Etihad has also pushed back its inaugural flights from Abu Dhabi to Israel.

The airline was set to launch a daily service from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv in March 2021.

Etihad announced that the launch will now take place on Tuesday, April 6, and initially operate as a twice-weekly Dreamliner service.

Flights take three hours and 25 minutes and economy fares will start from Dh1,635.

The recently signed air transport agreement between the UAE and Israel has allowed airlines here to begin introducing passenger and cargo flights between the two countries.

All the countries on Abu Dhabi's "green list"