Etihad Airways has announced special repatriation flights to six Indian cities.

The Abu Dhabi-based carrier will operate services from the UAE capital to Bengaluru (five times-a-week), Chennai (five times-a-week), Delhi (six times-a-week), Hyderabad (once-a-week), Kochi (twice-a-week) and Mumbai (daily), starting from July 15 and running through to July 26.

A statement from the airline said: “All eligible passengers travelling from India to Abu Dhabi must possess the relevant UAE entry approvals set by the government of Abu Dhabi.

“Passengers travelling to India must adhere to guidelines set by the government of India, and are also requested to arrive at Abu Dhabi Airport a minimum of four hours prior to departure to undertake mandatory rapid testing in Terminal 1A before check-in.”

Etihad has implemented an extensive sanitisation and customer safety programme, which includes specially trained Wellness Ambassadors, a first in the industry, who provide essential travel health information and care on the ground and on every flight, so guests can fly with greater ease and peace of mind.

Dubai-based carrier Emirates has also announced repatriation flights to India, from Sunday, which will serve both Indians looking to return home and UAE residents and citizens stranded in the country.