Etihad Airways said it has laid on three additional flights out of Cairo in order to evacuate an extra 1,020 passengers out of Egypt - including 700 UAE Nationals - to escape the ongoing political unrest in the country.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ CEO, said: “We are pleased to have worked so closely with the UAE Government to help UAE Nationals, and passengers from around the world, return safely home.
“Since the events in Egypt began, we have worked hand-in-hand with the UAE Embassy in Egypt, headed by the Ambassador HE Mohamed Nakhera Al Dhahri on this important evacuation project.
Our support staff in Cairo have also worked hard to ensure the care of our guests during this difficult period.
We are currently assessing opportunities to provide additional relief flights or upgrade aircraft over the coming days if required.”
HE Mohamed Nakhera Al Dhahri, UAE Ambassador to Cairo stated: “Relations between Egypt and the United Arab Emirates are strong, and we currently have many UAE Nationals residing in Egypt. We are proud to work in partnership with Etihad to ensure the safe transport of passengers of all nationalities to Abu Dhabi where necessary.”
The airline is still operating daily scheduled services to Cairo and four weekly services to Alexandria. But customers are advised to check the airline's website or contact the call centre for the latest updates on the current situation.