Etihad Airways has quietly updated its "CW005-2026 Middle East situation" commercial waiver, extending eligibility for free rebooking or full refunds to tickets with travel dates up to 31 March 2026. The change was spotted by travel consultants on 29 March and later confirmed on the airline’s agency portal, Etihad Hub. The waiver covers all Etihad-marketed (607) tickets issued on or before 28 February, whose original travel falls between 28 February and 15 April. For flights that have not been cancelled, customers may now rebook once without fees onto any Etihad service departing on or before 15 May 2026, or claim a full refund, including ancillary EMDs. Rerouting within defined airport groups is also permitted. Flights already cancelled by the carrier continue to fall under standard involuntary-change rules.
The expanded window aligns Etihad’s policy with rival Emirates, which last week extended its own disruption waiver to 30 March. Business-travel managers say the additional flexibility is essential because many corporate itineraries still require last-minute alteration as over-flight restrictions force lengthy detours, triggering missed connections and duty-time overruns for crews. Etihad continues to operate a reduced schedule, with some services routed south of the Arabian Peninsula to avoid hotspots over the Gulf. The carrier says safety remains “the absolute priority,” and that decisions on further extensions will be made “minute-by-minute” in coordination with regulators.
![Etihad extends free rebooking and refund waiver to 31 March as conflict continues to disrupt travel]()
Should travellers find themselves rerouted through new jurisdictions, they may also need to secure additional transit or entry permits at short notice. VisaHQ’s online platform can expedite these requirements, offering rapid visa and e-visa processing for the United Arab Emirates and more than 200 other destinations; see https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/ for details.
Mobility teams should note that new tickets issued after 28 February are outside the waiver and subject to normal fare rules. Companies booking replacement travel should therefore use corporate fares that allow changes or hold off until routings stabilise. Travellers can action changes via the Manage-My-Booking portal or through their TMC. Agents must insert the remark “CW005-2026 Middle East situation” in the PNR to avoid ADM penalties. Seats during the upcoming Eid al-Fitr week remain scarce; early re-booking is advised.
The expanded window aligns Etihad’s policy with rival Emirates, which last week extended its own disruption waiver to 30 March. Business-travel managers say the additional flexibility is essential because many corporate itineraries still require last-minute alteration as over-flight restrictions force lengthy detours, triggering missed connections and duty-time overruns for crews. Etihad continues to operate a reduced schedule, with some services routed south of the Arabian Peninsula to avoid hotspots over the Gulf. The carrier says safety remains “the absolute priority,” and that decisions on further extensions will be made “minute-by-minute” in coordination with regulators.
Should travellers find themselves rerouted through new jurisdictions, they may also need to secure additional transit or entry permits at short notice. VisaHQ’s online platform can expedite these requirements, offering rapid visa and e-visa processing for the United Arab Emirates and more than 200 other destinations; see https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/ for details.
Mobility teams should note that new tickets issued after 28 February are outside the waiver and subject to normal fare rules. Companies booking replacement travel should therefore use corporate fares that allow changes or hold off until routings stabilise. Travellers can action changes via the Manage-My-Booking portal or through their TMC. Agents must insert the remark “CW005-2026 Middle East situation” in the PNR to avoid ADM penalties. Seats during the upcoming Eid al-Fitr week remain scarce; early re-booking is advised.
