Travellers between the UK and Australia can transit in the UAE with Emirates and Etihad

Both airlines will connect travellers flying between London and several Australian cities with regular routes

Etihad will launch flights from Melbourne to London (pictured) via Abu Dhabi on Friday, May 15

Hayley Skirka

Travellers who want to fly between the UK and Australia will be able to connect in the UAE after Emirates and Eithad announced regular routes between the two countries.

Etihad is launching passenger flights from Melbourne to London via the UAE’s capital city on Friday, May 15.

From Thursday, May 21, the national airline of the UAE will also resume flights from the UK to Australia, again connecting in Abu Dhabi.

Etihad will fly regular services between London and Melbourne from Friday, May 15 with transit passengers able to book flights without obtaining approval to enter the UAE. Courtesy Etihad 

Travellers transiting in Abu Dhabi can book these flights without having to obtain permission to enter the UAE.

Upon landing at Abu Dhabi International Airport, transit passengers will remain on board the aircraft until it departs again.

Australia to London passengers will wait on the tarmac for one hour and 15 minutes. On the return leg, travellers will have a scheduled one-hour-and-20-minute wait before departure.

When flights arrive at their final destination, passengers will be required to follow quarantine regulations in place in the UK and Australia. Etihad advises travellers to check current entry regulations for both countries before booking flights.

Travellers flying to Australia will be able to travel to Melbourne with Etihad and to Melbourne or Sydney with Emirates. 

All Etihad flights arriving in London will land at Heathrow Terminal 2, from which the airline is temporarily operating.

Tickets are on sale on Etihad’s website with one-way fares from Melbourne to London from A$1,575.80 (Dh3,758). From the UK to Australia, fares start from £929.77 (Dh4,199).

Emirates to London and Australia

Emirates is resuming operations to nine cities from Thursday, May 21. It will allow travellers to fly between the UK and Australia using Dubai as a connection hub. Courtesy Emirates 

From Dubai, Emirates is also launching passenger services between the UAE and Australia.

Starting on Thursday, May 21, the Dubai airline will resume flights to nine cities including London, Melbourne and Sydney.

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Passengers that wish to travel between the UK and Australia with Emirates can transit at Dubai International Airport.

The National has reached out to Emirates for more information on whether these passengers will remain on the aircraft upon landing in Dubai or if there will be transit facilities available in the airport.

Tickets are not yet available for booking but will be on Emirates.com once government approval is finalised.

Updated: May 13, 2020, 12:04 PM