Changes in schedule for Etihad flights from Dhaka

Etihad Airways has changed schedule of its flights between Dhaka-Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi-New York and Abu Dhabi-Jeddah effective from May 31, the airline said in a statement yesterday.

The daily EY253 flight from Dhaka to Abu Dhabi will move from 22.15 hours to 21.45 hours, departing 30 minutes earlier than before, and the EY258 flight will similarly arrive 30 minutes earlier in Dhaka, at 20:15 hours instead of 20:45 hours.

The changes aim to make travel more convenient for Bangladeshi passengers flying to New York and Chicago, by providing adequate transit time of two hours at Abu Dhabi Airport to complete US immigrations and customs related work.

US preclearance allows passengers to conveniently pass through all required checks, including US customs, immigration and security before they board their flight in Abu Dhabi, enabling them to arrive as domestic passengers and avoid queues in the US.

Passengers on all Etihad Airways flights from Abu Dhabi to the United States, including those to Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Dallas-Fort Worth, are processed through US preclearance, according to the statement.

The changes have also restored Jeddah's connectivity with Dhaka, the carrier said.