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Etihad suspends Abu Dhabi flights till March 6, to operate only limited services

Kartavya Desk Staff

Etihad Airways Wednesday said all its scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi remained suspended until 6 am UAE time (7.30am IST) on March 6.

“In coordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals, a limited number of repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights are operating. Select services are available for sale for travel on 4 and 5 March, where approvals have been confirmed,” the statement added.

Reiterating that guests must not travel to the airport unless they have a purchased or been issued a confirmed booking in the last 24 hours, Etihad Airways said, “Access to the airport will be restricted for those without confirmed travel documentation.”

Etihad Airways advisory

The advisory issued by the airline directed gues to follow certain norms.

Guests are advised to:

• Check their flight status on the official website before travelling to the airport

• Ensure their contact details are up to date in their booking

• Guests holding Etihad tickets issued on or before 28 February 2026, with original travel dates up to 10 March 2026, may rebook free of charge onto Etihad-operated flights up to 31 March 2026.

• Guests on all Etihad flights until 10 March may request a refund through the official website or through their travel agent.

• Guests who booked through a travel agent should contact their agent directly.

Flights that ran on March 2

Etihad Airways ran eight flights on March 2 (according to Flightradar24) that could only be boarded by some passengers. Two flights to Mumbai and Delhi were among the eight flights that took off from Abu Dhabi airport Monday. The Mumbai flight left at 15.35 and the Delhi flight at 15.55.

The first Etihad flight took off at 14:39 and headed to London. Followed by a 14.50 flight to Amsterdam.

At 15.02, an Etihad Airways flight took off to Paris, and at 15.12, to Moscow. The Karachi flight left Abu Dhabi at 15.24, and the Islamabad flight at 15.45.

Worst-hit airlines

According to flight tracking website FlightAware, Middle Eastern carriers Emirates, Etihad Airways, Fly Dubai and Qatar Airways are among the hardest-affected airlines that have thrown the global aviation industry into chaos.

Of a total of more than 6,000 flights cancelled on Wednesday, Emirates recorded most number of cancellations at 485 while Etihad Airways, FlyDubai and Qatar have respectively 190, 181 and 106 of their flights cancelled as of 1.40 pm IST.

The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More

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