Etihad says repatriation flights may operate; commercial flights remain cancelled

Etihad Airways on Monday confirmed that "some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with UAE authorities" while clarifying that commercial flights continue to remain cancelled.

In a statement sent to ARN News, Etihad spokesperson said the "flights are subject to strict operational and safety approvals".

It added that "safety remains our absolute priority, and services will operate only once all safety criteria are met".

Earlier, the UAE national carrier confirmed that all flights to and from Abu Dhabi have been suspended until 2pm on Tuesday, due to the continued closure of regional airspaces. 

Passengers "holding Etihad tickets issued on or before February 28, with original travel dates up to March 7, may rebook free of charge onto Etihad-operated flights up to March 18".

Meanwhile, all those who've booked on "all Etihad flights until March 7 may request a full refund at http://etihad.com/en/help/refund-form or through their travel agent".

Travellers are advised to check the airline's official channels for all updates. 

Regional Airspace Disruption – Operational Update

Regional airspace closures continue to impact Etihad's operations, and all flights to and from Abu Dhabi are suspended until 14:00 UAE time on Tuesday 3 March.

Guests due to travel are advised to:

-Check their flight status at…

— Etihad Airways (@etihad) March 2, 2026

The airline added that it is "currently experiencing a high volume of calls" and urged travellers to be patient "as it may take longer than usual for calls to be answered".