Etihad Airways Suspends Flights to Abu Dhabi Due to Regional Airspace Closure
Etihad Airways announced the temporary suspension of all flights to and from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, due to a regional airspace closure currently in effect, which has impacted air travel operations in the region.
The suspension applies until 02:00 UAE time on Monday 2 March for all scheduled flights to and from Abu Dhabi International Airport, based on information received in Abu Dhabi on Sunday 1 March.
Previously, the airline, which is fully owned by the Abu Dhabi government, had notified that flights from Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi were suspended until Sunday at 14:00 local time.
The airline urged all passengers scheduled to travel during this period to monitor important updates and follow recommended steps regarding rescheduling or refund requests.
Etihad Airways stated it is continuing to coordinate with relevant authorities to resolve the airspace closure as quickly as possible.
The airline emphasised that passenger and staff safety is its top priority, and normal operations will resume as soon as conditions permit.
The airline also apologised for the inconvenience caused by the disruption and appreciated passengers’ understanding during this difficult period.
The suspension of numerous flights has directly impacted the tourism sector, particularly for tourists planning to visit the UAE or the Middle East region.
As one of the region’s major international aviation hubs, Abu Dhabi serves as a gateway for tourists travelling to Dubai, Sharjah, and various other major destinations in the UAE.
With Etihad Airways flights suspended, travel plans to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and other regional destinations have been affected.
The Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi stated it has received reports from Indonesian nationals travelling on the airline and affected by flight cancellations due to tensions occurring in the Middle East region.
A number of Umrah pilgrims, who were in transit from Jeddah to Abu Dhabi, were forced to have their return flights cancelled due to the airspace closure that prevented commercial aircraft from operating.
Most of the Indonesian nationals have been recorded by the Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and advised to continue updating their situation from official sources.
At 13:30 local time, the National Emergency Alert system sent notifications to mobile phones informing Abu Dhabi residents that conditions had returned to normal and safe. However, at 15:40 local time, an emergency alert was sent again informing of a potential missile threat, with residents asked to seek safe locations, away from windows, doors, and open areas, and to await further information.