Abu Dhabi based airline, Etihad has extended pay cuts for all employees until end of this year. Employees will now have their salaries cut by 10%, until December 2020. Until August, Etihad employees had their salaries cut by 20-25%. The aviation industry has been hit hard by the pandemic. Etihad and Emirates have laid off staff and also asked employees to go on voluntary Payless leave. Read more here on the Pandemic’s Effect On Tourism Sector.
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Emirates Employees To Receive FULL Salaries From October
It looks like bad days are finally over for Emirates employees. In a recent announcement, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group said: “You will be relieved to know that from October 1, we are reinstating full basic salaries across the board. This does not mean we are out of the woods – there are many challenges ahead in an environment of considerable uncertainty, and we will need to respond accordingly and decisively.”
The announcement comes in time when the airline added more destinations to its route. In addition, Emirates also plans to resume flights to all destinations by the summer of 2021. Despite the sever crunch, Emirates Also Refunded AED 1.9 Billion To Passengers In Two Months and also announced Mandatory Covid Negative Certificate For Travellers From 10 Countries.
Earlier, about 700 pilots were given redundancy notices and at least 1,200 employees lost their jobs. The cuts were focussed on those who fly Airbus planes, rather than Boeing aircraft. This is because the Airbus planes have a 500+ capacity, whereas Boeing 777s carry a smaller number of passengers, making it more appropriate to operate during this period of reduced travel.
The airline had already laid off a tenth of their workforce, and the number could account to up to 15%. As per the International Air Transport Association (IATA) the airline industry is set to bear a net loss of more than $84 billion this year. This has, by far been the biggest in the industry’s history.
Etihad Announces Mandatory Negative PCR Test For All Abu Dhabi-Bound Travellers
All travellers flying Etihad Airways must show a negative PCR test result. The new rule applies to travellers flying from any country to Abu Dhabi, as well as those transiting via Abu Dhabi. The test must be done from approved testing facilities listed on Etihad website. In addition, passengers must also carry an ICA approval if Abu Dhabi is their end destination.
The PCR test must be carried out within 96 hours prior to arrival in Abu Dhabi. The negative Covid-19 PCR test result certificate from one of the approved clinics listed must be shown for approval to board. Children under the age of 12 and people with mild to severe disabilities are currently exempt from this PCR test requirement.
Travellers leaving the UAE from Abu Dhabi to any country in the European Union, the United Kingdom, or to any country where a PCR test is mandatory, must produce a negative Covid certificate 96 hours prior to boarding. To help facilitate this process, Etihad Airways has collaborated with Mediclinic Middle East to offer departing travellers the option of convenient PRC testing, for a fee, at their home, or at Mediclinic facilities in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Dubai prior to their travel.
Etihad Introduces Wellness Ambassadors
Etihad Airways has launched a new in-flight service to ensure wellness of passengers. The Etihad Wellness program covers a host of precautions and services, to help passengers have a pleasant flight. Etihad flights now have ‘wellness ambassadors’ who will be around the aircraft to ensure safety of passengers. The dedicated team will receive special training in Abu Dhabi. The wellness program ensures safety of passengers pre boarding, during check in, on board, and while landing. On another note, Etihad Airways Also Launches ‘Contactless’ Method To Test For Covid-19
Etihad Introduces New Baggage Deal To India, Pakistan & 12 Other Countries
Travellers not checking in luggage can now avail a new baggage deal, that lets you book cheap tickets. Etihad’s new hand-baggage-only fares allows economy travellers to book cheaper tickets.
Earlier, hand-baggage-only fares was applicable only to destinations in GCC including Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Azerbaijan. However, UAE’s national airline has now introduced this fare across 14 other destinations for flights in July and August. Meanwhile, This Country Will Pay You 3,000 US Dollars If You Visit & Get Covid.