Etihad Airways confirmed at 10:46 a.m. on 6 March that it has restarted commercial services from Zayed International Airport (AUH) following “extensive safety and security assessments” with UAE regulators. The restart covers 70 destinations across Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia and North America, giving multinational companies a critical alternative to Dubai while Emirates capacity is still constrained. Travellers with existing bookings are automatically re-accommodated; new tickets are on sale, but Etihad warns the public not to come to the airport without direct confirmation.
![Etihad Airways restarts passenger services from Abu Dhabi on 6 March after safety review]()
Business travellers scrambling to adjust itineraries should also double-check entry requirements: VisaHQ can fast-track UAE visas and transit permits entirely online, providing document checklists, real-time tracking and concierge support through https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/ Using the service can prevent last-minute border hassles and gives mobility managers a single dashboard for multiple employees’ travel documents.
Key waiver policies include free date changes for tickets issued on or before 28 February with travel up to 21 March, and full refunds via an online form for flights cancelled during the shutdown. Mobility managers should capture any reissue receipts to support expense claims and immigration compliance audits. AUH’s reopening also restarts Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a life-sciences and semiconductor logistics hub. Cargo operations are running under the same restricted corridors as passenger flights, so high-value freight should be booked as early as possible and insured for war-risk surcharges now levied by most carriers. Etihad’s return is expected to relieve pressure on Dubai hotels, where average nightly rates had climbed above AED 1,100 during the stoppage as stranded travellers waited for seats.
Business travellers scrambling to adjust itineraries should also double-check entry requirements: VisaHQ can fast-track UAE visas and transit permits entirely online, providing document checklists, real-time tracking and concierge support through https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/ Using the service can prevent last-minute border hassles and gives mobility managers a single dashboard for multiple employees’ travel documents.
Key waiver policies include free date changes for tickets issued on or before 28 February with travel up to 21 March, and full refunds via an online form for flights cancelled during the shutdown. Mobility managers should capture any reissue receipts to support expense claims and immigration compliance audits. AUH’s reopening also restarts Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a life-sciences and semiconductor logistics hub. Cargo operations are running under the same restricted corridors as passenger flights, so high-value freight should be booked as early as possible and insured for war-risk surcharges now levied by most carriers. Etihad’s return is expected to relieve pressure on Dubai hotels, where average nightly rates had climbed above AED 1,100 during the stoppage as stranded travellers waited for seats.
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