Etihad extends fee-free changes as UAE carriers keep reduced schedules in place

On 8 April Etihad Airways updated its travel-waiver policy, allowing passengers holding tickets issued on or before 28 February with original travel dates up to 15 April to rebook free of charge for flights through 15 June. The move aligns Etihad with Emirates and flydubai, which are operating limited schedules while regional airspace remains partially closed. Dubai Airports continues to advise passengers not to travel to DXB without a confirmed same-day departure time. Live departure boards show a mix of on-time, delayed and cancelled flights as airlines juggle aircraft routings that avoid restricted corridors. Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah airports report similar patterns, with ad-hoc charter services filling some gaps. Air India has added 16 additional flights to and from the UAE between 10 and 18 April to repatriate stranded passengers and support migrant-worker traffic ahead of Eid. Meanwhile Iraq’s reopening of its airspace on 8 April provides an additional corridor that analysts say could shave up to 25 minutes off certain detours, potentially easing fuel burn and crew-duty limitations. For corporate mobility teams the key takeaway is that flight operations remain fluid. Travellers should keep itineraries flexible and use airline mobile apps for real-time updates.



If last-minute travel changes also mean scrambling for new or updated visas, VisaHQ can help by processing UAE visa applications entirely online and often in under 24 hours; visit https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/ for details on requirements and quick turnaround options.

Companies may also need to revisit per-diem budgets as longer layovers and unexpected hotel nights add cost.