Travelling to the UK during lockdown: Etihad to continue regular flights to England

The country will enter a four-week lockdown on November 5, but its borders will remain open

Etihad is positioning the airline as a mid-sized, full-service carrier. Courtesy Etihad

Etihad has confirmed it will continue flights to the UK, as England prepares to head into renewed travel restrictions.

England will enter a one-month lockdown on November 5, beginning at midnight, local time, and ending on December 2.

As part of the new precautions, all retail, leisure and hospitality venues will be closed, with only essential shops allowed to remain open. All workers who are able to work from home are ordered to do so, but schools, universities and courts will remain open.

While the lockdown also includes a ban on all international travel from England and all travel within the UK, unless for work, the country is not closing its borders, so it will still be possible to travel there.

Etihad has confirmed that it will maintain its current schedule, which includes two daily flights to London Heathrow, at 7am and 2pm, and a daily 7am service to Manchester.

All passengers arriving in the UK will need to show proof of a completed passenger locator form at the border.

Travellers from the UAE will need to self-isolate for 14 days after arriving in the country, at the location specified in the passenger locator form. They will not be allowed to leave the premises for 14 days – even for reasons permitted by the new measures. There are fines of up to £10,000 ($12,945) if travellers do not self-isolate for the required period.

As of November 1, only passengers travelling from select countries or travel corridors, do not need to self-isolate. This includes travellers from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and the Seychelles; a complete list of exemptions can be found here.

What else does the UK lockdown affect?

People are allowed to leave the house to exercise outdoors or visit an outdoor public place, including parks, beaches, the countryside, public gardens and playgrounds – but only on their own, with the people they live with, people in their support bubble or with one person from another household.

All entertainment venues, such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries, bowling alleys, concert halls and zoos, will be closed.

Overnight stays and holidays away from primary residences will not be allowed, including stays in a second home.

Hotels, hostels and other accommodation will only be open for those who have to travel for work purposes and for a limited number of other exemptions which have yet to be specified. The government has yet to say whether holiday rentals will be allowed to remain open.