Etihad resumes passenger flights from Abu Dhabi to China

The airline will fly weekly from Abu Dhabi to Shanghai from July 27

Etihad will resume weekly flights to Shanghai from July 27. Unsplash

Etihad Airways will resume flights to China this month.

The airline will operate a weekly service between Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, with the first flight scheduled for July 27.

“We are delighted to announce the resumption of scheduled services to China, as we gradually return to more destinations on our global network," said Robin Kamark, chief commercial officer at Etihad.

The flights will operate via a Boeing 777-300ER, which will leave Abu Dhabi at 1am on Mondays and land in China's biggest city a little before 2pm.

Return flights will depart Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 11.40pm on Tuesdays, starting from July 28. Flights will land back in the UAE capital just after 5am the next day.

An Etihad Boeing 777-300ER flies over Shanghai's Pudong International Airport. Courtesy Etihad

The service to Shanghai is Etihad's first scheduled passenger service to China since flights were grounded because of the coronavirus pandemic. It takes the airline's resumed network to 59 destinations set to be in operation by August.

The majority of passengers on the Abu Dhabi to Shanghai route are initially expected to be business travellers. Flights will operate with business and economy-class cabins.

“The restarting of passenger services between Abu Dhabi and Shanghai will cater to the large demand from business travellers in the UAE, China and other economies in the Middle East and Africa," said Kamark.

Negative Covid-19 tests required 

All travellers flying with Etihad to China will need to show a negative Covid-19 certificate received at least 72 hours prior to departure from Abu Dhabi – or from another departure point if travellers are transiting in the UAE.

Etihad passengers can use the airline's home testing service, with results available within 48 hours.

Flights to and from Shanghai will be supported by Etihad's wellness ambassadors. These specially trained staff are on the ground at Abu Dhabi International Airport and on all Etihad flights where they serve as cabin crew and provide passengers with essential health information.

All Etihad flights have Wellness Ambassadors onboard. Courtesy Etihad