Under approval obtained by Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the Emirates, from the Civil Aviation Authority of Russia, the carrier will operate 5 special flights between Abu Dhabi and Moscow from Saturday 21 March to Wednesday 24 March.
The flights will help repatriate Russian and Emirati citizens, and will transport travelers of other nationalities via Abu Dhabi to their countries of origin, following the suspension of flights between the two capitals and the imposition of temporary travel restrictions to limit the spread of the new Covid-19 virus.
These flights will operate on a Boeing 787-9 wide-body aircraft and Airbus A321A
Only Russian citizens will be allowed to board the aircraft operating on the Abu Dhabi-Moscow route, while passengers of different nationalities will be able to board the Moscow-Abu Dhabi flight, provided there are connecting flights and no travel restrictions that hinder their arrival to their final destinations. Only UAE nationals will be allowed to enter the United Arab Emirates at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Flight 65EY departs from Abu Dhabi at 2.15 am for each of the two private flights, and arrives in Moscow at 6.55 am. The return flight is scheduled to depart from Moscow at 1.35 am and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 5.55 am.