Etihad relief jets from Thailand fly 2,000 people

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The national airline of the UAE has flown 1,600 passengers on four relief flights so far from U-Tapao airport in Thailand to its home base of Abu Dhabi with many rescued travellers flying onwards to Europe, Africa and other parts of the Middle East. A further 400 passengers will travel this evening on the airline's fifth special service.

Etihad Airways is finalising plans to start two flights a day for stranded travellers from tomorrow with one aircraft operating from U-Tapao and the other flying from Phuket.

Captain Richard Hill, the airline's Executive Vice President Operations, said:

'We've flown in extra staff from our Abu Dhabi headquarters to Thailand to help our full time team based there to try and help run the operation more smoothly and efficiently for travellers who understandably are keen to return home as soon as possible to see their loved ones.'

Etihad relief flight EY408 departs Abu Dhabi airport at 1400 local time (1000 GMT, 1700 Thailand time) to arrive at U-Tapao airport in Thailand at 0100 local time (2200 Abu Dhabi time,1800 GMT). The return flight EY401 departs U-Tapao airport at 0500 local time (0200 Abu Dhabi time, 2200 GMT) and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 0900 local time (1200 Thailand time, 0500 GMT).

The airline suspended its double daily service to Suvarnabhumi airport following its closure on Wednesday evening, November 26. Services will be resumed when the airport reopens.