Etihad Airways to resume Melbourne - London flights

Etihad Airways is resuming flights between Melbourne and London via Abu Dhabi from Friday, with strict hygiene rules.

An Etihad Airways business class cabin.

Etihad Airways is resuming flights between Melbourne and London via its Abu Dhabi hub from this Friday, with strict hygiene protocols.

The airline also said in a statement it will offer London to Melbourne flights via Abu Dhabi from May 21.

Etihad plans to maintain this link until it fully resumes its previous double daily connection between the two cities.

The flights feature business and economy cabins.

“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,” it said.

“The airline has implemented an extensive sanitisation and customer safety program 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, in-flight, crew interaction, meal service, disembarkation and ground transportation, among others,” it said.

Both Australia and Britain currently require arriving international passengers to quarantine for 14 days.

Etihad is a shareholder in the collapsed Virgin Australia and has reportedly been in talks with Oaktree Capital Management about making a bid for the Australian carrier.

First round indicative bids are due to Virgin’s receiver Deloitte by Friday.