Etihad to restart Melbourne-London route on May 15

Etihad Airways will offer flights from Melbourne to London, with transit via Abu Dhabi, from May 15. It will restart the return leg, London to Melbourne, from May 21. The airline plans to maintain this link until it fully resumes its previous double daily connection between the two cities. Etihad said it had implemented an "an extensive sanitisation and safety programme" on flights and at airports, and recommended face masks for travellers. "On board, we'll make sure you are seated with as much space as possible between every guest, and we'll offer our food and drinks service in line with important COVID-19 guidelines," a statement on Etihad's website said. Passengers will remain on board at Abu Dhabi. Additional safety and security measures will be in place at the destination and passengers will be required to self-quarantine, the airline said. Etihad suspended all flights in late March, but last month announced it would begin resuming flights over the next two months with a reduced network of scheduled services "with the aim of gradually returning to a fuller schedule as and when the global situation improves".<br/>