Etihad Airways canceled the resumption of its Nairobi-Abu Dhabi flights at the eleventh hour, leaving some customers confused and stranded.

Under the new plan, flights will resume on June 1 2024. According to a local newspaper that cited sources, the flights might have been pushed forward due to delays in regulatory approvals and bad weather.

“Etihad Airways has done the thing! After their highly advertised resumption of flights to and from Nairobi from May 1st 2024, they put on their website late last night that the flights have been postponed until 1st June for reasons beyond their control,” one traveler said.

“Calls from their call centre are now going unanswered. No email or direct communication to customers who booked directly to inform them of the change. The option for those flying Etihad to a third destination is flying Egypt Air to Cairo and then Cairo Abu Dhabi and then onward to your next destination or cancellation for a full refund.”

Some passengers, though, said that they were rebooked on other airlines at no extra costs.

“I was affected by this change, my flight was yesterday. I contacted them via chat through their Website and they booked me on Qatar Airways at no cost,”said Jacinta Muraya.

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The airline had announced  that it would have charged an introductory fare price of Sh. 42,820 for a one-way ticket on economy seats on May 1. First class seats would have cost 157,865 on the same day. It now remains to be seen if the same prices will be offered on June 1.

The flights are expected to restore commercial non-stop passenger connections between the two cities, and guests from Kenya will be able to connect with Etihad flights to the GCC, the US, Europe, India and South-East Asia.

Etihad Airways will operate daily flights to Nairobi using the advanced Airbus A320, featuring Business and Economy cabins.