Etihad will resume services between Heathrow and Melbourne this week, despite the UK government’s plan to insist on a 14-day quarantine for all arrivals and similar restrictions remaining in place in Australia.
The airline will operate a weekly scheduled service from Melbourne via Abu Dhabi from Friday, with return services beginning on May 21.
It said it plans to maintain the link to complement the “special services” currently being offered and until it “fully resumes its previous double-daily connection between the two cities”. Flights will feature business and economy cabins.
A statement said: “Etihad continues to follow UAE and international government, regulatory and health authority directives, and is playing its part in helping to limit the spread of Covid-19.
“The airline has implemented an extensive sanitisation and customer safety programme and is practising the highest standards of hygiene at every part of the customer journey.
“This includes catering, aircraft and cabin deep-cleaning, check-in, health screening, boarding, inflight, crew interaction, meal service, disembarkation and ground transportation, among others.”
The FCO currently advises against all but essential international travel. Those wishing to travel to Australia who are not citizens, permanent residents or their immediate families must apply for a visa via special exemption.