Etihad Airways has stated that passenger flights from India to Abu Dhabi are likely to remain suspended after August 7, as per the latest information received from UAE authorities.

The UAE imposed a ban on flights from India from April 25 in view of the surge in COVID-19 infections in the country and the emergence of the Delta variant of the virus. Currently, only a limited number of flights are operating from the UAE to India.

In response to a question asked by a passenger on whether she should reschedule a connecting flight on August 8 from India to Chicago via Abu Dhabi, Emirates stated that it is "not sure if the suspension will be extended".

Furthermore, an official at the Etihad call centre on Saturday said that travel restrictions are expected to continue after August 7.

“The suspension on flights from India to the UAE is currently until August 7. But there is a chance this suspension will be extended by UAE authorities from August 8 onwards,” the official said.

This development has come days after Emirates extended the suspension of passenger flights from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to Dubai until August 7 in accordance with the directives issued by the UAE government. Both Etihad and Emirates have been regularly revising their information about travel ban and flight schedules in line with the government's directives.

Emirates added that passengers who transited through India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka in the past 14 days are also not allowed to travel to the UAE from any other destination to ensure maximum safety. Taking note of the changing protocols, residents keen on returning to the UAE from these countries are taking a long way back after spending two weeks in other nations such as Armenia, Maldives, Serbia, Uzbekistan and Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, UAE citizens, residents with golden visas, members of diplomatic missions, and participants of Expo 2020 Dubai with sponsors have been exempted from the new travel restrictions to enter the UAE.

Etihad and Emirates have called on all passengers to check the latest travel regulations in the UAE and other nations in order to be allowed entry to the emirates.