Etihad Airways to resume flights to Johannesburg on March 3

The move comes after the UAE lifted restrictions on flights from Africa

Etihad had stopped flying to South African city Johannesburg after the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. Unsplash

Etihad Airways will resume flights to and from Johannesburg in South Africa on March 3, the UAE's national airline has said.

The news comes after the UAE lifted restrictions on flights arriving from 12 African nations on Saturday that were put in place after the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (Ncema) updated entry procedures, saying flight arrivals could resume from: Botswana, Congo Republic, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

It also said that entry procedures have been updated for flights originating from Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda.

The new rules came into effect at 2.30pm on Saturday.

12 African nations where UAE flights restrictions were lifted:

The Drakensberg escarpment in Lesotho. Flight arrivals can resume from the country on January 29, UAE authorities said. Photo: Jandre van der Walt/ Unsplash

Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe, one of the 12 African nations where passenger flights to the UAE will restart. Photo: Tanner Marquis/ Unsplash

The central business district in Gaborone, Botswana. Flights can resume from Botswana, Congo Republic, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, authorities said. Photo: Justice Hubane/ Unsplash

Amboseli National Park, Kenya. Passengers travelling from the 12 countries will be required to take a PCR test 48 hours before departure. Photo: Sergey Pesterev/ Unsplash

Mbabane, capital of Eswatini. Photo: Lungelo S Mthupha/ Unsplash

Lagos, in Nigeria. Photo: Nupo Deyon Daniel/ Unsplash

Sesriem, Namibia. Photo: Arne Smith/ Unsplash

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Photo: Peter Mitchell/ Unsplash

Cape Town, South Africa. Photo: Tobias Reich/ Unsplash

Salt flats, Danikil Depression, Ethiopia. Photo: Lesly Derksen/ Unsplash

Maputo, Mozambique. Photo: Rohan Reddy/ Unsplash

Street performers in Brazzaville, Congo Republic. Photo: Valdhy Mbemba/ Unsplash

Flying between Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg

Passengers arriving from Johannesburg to Abu Dhabi will need a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of departure, as well as a negative rapid PCR test taken within six hours of departure.

They will also need to take another PCR test upon arrival at Abu Dhabi Airport.

More information is available on etihad.com/destinationguide or through the mobile app.

Emirates resumes flights to five African countries

Emirates airline resumed flights to Johannesburg on Saturday, alongside Cape Town and Durban in South Africa, as well as services to four other African nations, namely Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Flights between Dubai and South Africa will now operate daily to and from Johannesburg, departing at 4.40am, and twice-daily from Tuesday, with the second leaving Dubai at 10.05am.

Flights to and from Cape Town and Durban will operate daily from Tuesday. The Dubai to Cape Town route will depart at 3.55am, while the Durban flight will leave at 10.35am.