From June 29, 2022, Etihad Airways will function the primary common direct worldwide passenger flight to renew for Beijing, China. The service will resume below the mandate of China’s Joint Prevention and Management Mechanism of the State Council, a physique shaped in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Etihad Airways will function the weekly service with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The inaugural flight EY 888 will depart Abu Dhabi Worldwide Airport (AUH) on Wednesday at 18:00 and arrive at Beijing Capital Worldwide Airport (PEK) the following day at 05:25. The 787-9 Dreamliner will cowl the three,700 miles (5,960 kilometers) in round 7:15 hours. The return flight, EY 889, departs on Friday at 02:10, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 07:10. Etihad additionally operates a direct service to China’s Shanghai Pudong Worldwide Airport (PVG) utilizing a Boeing 777-300ER.
The 787 Dreamliner is the plane for Beijing flights
Etihad Airways has 39 Boeing B787s with 32 at the moment on order from Boeing. Picture: Etihad
Etihad SVP international gross sales and cargo at Etihad Aviation Group, Martin Drew, mentioned the airline is delighted to renew passenger providers between Abu Dhabi and Beijing, including:
“China has at all times been an vital strategic marketplace for Etihad, and the resumption of direct flights between the 2 capital cities will additional strengthen the excellent strategic partnership between China and the United Arab Emirates.”
Based on ch-aviation.com, Etihad has a fleet of 104 plane, with 69 lively and 35 inactive. Operational plane embody seven Airbus A320-200s, seven A321-200s, 5 A350-1000s, six Boeing B777-300ERs, 30 B787-9s, 9 B787-10s and 5 B777-200F freighters. By way of long-haul capability, it has ten Airbus A380-800s and 5 Boeing B777-300ERs, so it has greater than sufficient plane to launch the brand new UAE to China connections.
Whereas flights are resuming, passengers will nonetheless must navigate China’s COVID-related testing and entry necessities. These are intensive and, as of as we speak, embody being totally vaccinated no less than 14 days earlier than departure and having a PCR take a look at 48 hours and up 12 hours earlier than departure. Beijing-bound passengers should add paperwork to the Chinese language Embassy in Abu Dhabi and apply for a Blue Well being code, which is obligatory for journey to China. For Beijing flights, healthcare firm G42 does PCR assessments between 6 pm and 11 pm on Monday pre-flight and between 6 am and 10 am on departure day.
New routes and seasonal demand are filling seats for Etihad
Etihad has 5 A350s in its fleet with 15 extra on order from Airbus. Picture: Joanna Bailey | Easy Flying
Etihad expects massive volumes of passengers at Abu Dhabi airport between June 30 and July 1. To assist meet that demand, Etihad has expanded its fast self-service bag drop services, enabling extra passengers to skip the check-in queues. Vacationers might want to add their well being paperwork, and as soon as these are verified, they’ll examine in on-line, get their boarding move and use the self-service services or the fast-track ‘Verified to Fly’ desks.
On June 15, Etihad launched 5 seasonal routes, connecting Abu Dhabi to vacationer scorching spots this summer time. Twice-weekly flights will function to Good on the French Côte d’Azur, Heraklion on the Greek island of Crete and Malaga in Spain. Companies will even function 3 times weekly to the Greek island of Santorini and Zanzibar in Tanzania. Celebrating the brand new routes, passengers on the inaugural providers will obtain an Etihad wellbeing equipment, together with a mini tote bag upcycled from flight blankets.
Will the Etihad Abu Dhabi-Beijing service be successful whereas China’s restrictions keep in impact?
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