Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9. Photo: Shutterstock If you’re booked on Etihad and you wish to know what happens next, here’s where things stand at the moment.
Because of the ongoing situation in the Middle East, Etihad Airways has introduced flexible options for passengers holding commercial EY tickets, specifically those issued on or before February 28, 2026. The policy mainly covers travel scheduled on or before March 10.
If your flight has already been canceled, the airline’s standard schedule change policy applies. You can rebook for travel on or before March 31, 2026.
If your flight has not been canceled but you were due to travel on or before March 10, you can still change your plans without paying extra fees. Rebooking is allowed free of charge in the same cabin, subject to availability, for travel up to March 31 on Etihad-operated flights. In some cases, rerouting is also permitted. For example, if your original destination was Tel Aviv, you can reroute to Athens or Amman on Etihad flights.
Change fees, no-show charges, and service fees are waived for eligible tickets. Any ticket reissue must be completed by March 10. For trips scheduled after March 11, the usual fare rules apply.
Refunds are also an option. If your flight was canceled, the standard policy applies. If it was not canceled but you were set to travel on or before March 10, you can request a full refund for unused tickets. Partially used tickets can be refunded on a prorated basis, with penalties waived.
All affected bookings must include the remark: “CW005-2026 Middle East situation.”
Separately, Etihad has suspended all scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi until 14:00 UAE time on Thursday, March 5. Some cargo, repositioning, and repatriation flights may still operate with approval from UAE authorities.
Passengers are strongly advised not to go to the airport unless they have been contacted directly by Etihad and told to do so. Airport access will be restricted to those with confirmed documentation. Travelers should also double-check that their contact details are updated in their booking.
The airline notes that the situation remains fluid and schedules could change quickly. Call centers are experiencing high volumes, so response times may be longer than usual.
For now, Etihad says it is working closely with authorities and will resume normal operations when conditions allow.