Etihad Airways has cancelled all flights between Abu Dhabi and South Africa. The United Arab Emirates carrier has been operating out of South Africa for over a decade.
The airline closed its office in Johannesburg and will not be operating during the Northern Hemisphere’s winter season for 2020/2021.
Etihad cited a decrease in demand for flights as the reason for halting operations.
A spokesperson from the airline said to Travel News: ‘Due to the continued impact of COVID-19 on global travel, a number of Etihad routes to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended throughout the winter 2020/2021 season. Etihad is working closely with impacted guests to notify them of the change to their itineraries and to re-accommodate them on alternative flights.
‘Refunds are permitted for all future bookings with an original trade date on or after October 1, 2020, where any of the flights on the booking have been cancelled by Etihad. The airline is also providing flexible options for existing bookings.’
In a statement, the carrier said it was changing its organisational structure to address the harsh impact of COVID-19.
‘The restructuring sees the airline continuing its transformation into a mid-sized, full-service carrier concentrating on its fleet of widebody aircraft, with a leaner, flatter and scaleable organisational structure that supports organic growth as the world returns to flying.
‘By embedding the new structure, the airline will strengthen its focus on its core offering of safety, security, service; continue developing its industry-leading health and hygiene programme Etihad Wellness, and prioritise innovation and sustainability, which are essential to the future of the airline.’
What to do if you have a flight booked with Etihad
Passengers with flights booked can contact the airline’s call centre, details for this can be found at: www.etihad.com/contacts.
If tickets have been purchased through a travel agent, it is advised that arrangements be made with them directly.
‘Etihad regrets any inconvenience caused by the continued suspension of the affected routes,’ said the spokesperson to Travel News.
A rebooking agreement is in place with EgyptAir via Cairo. ‘This option should be offered to the guest only if there are suitable connections available. This does not apply to groups, redemption or Free of Charge (FOC) tickets,’ said the airline.
The sun in rising on a new era of air travel. And with a pioneering vision and limitless ambition, the UAE will continue to lead the world of aviation. Happy #UAECivilAviationDay! pic.twitter.com/yIKUyD7RCt
— Etihad Airways (@etihad) October 5, 2020
South Africans will not be able to book Qantas flights until the end of 2021
Australian carrier Qantas has announced that flights on South Africa, UK and US routes.
‘Qantas has temporarily stopped selling some international routes until the end of October 2021, due to market uncertainty and ongoing government restrictions. However, flights have not been cancelled and existing bookings remain active (referring to repatriation flights).’
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