Etihad Airways is set to introduce 10 new destinations starting July 2025, connecting Abu Dhabi to major Asia Pacific and global cities. These destinations include Atlanta, Taipei, Medan, Phnom Penh, Krabi, Tunis, Chiang Mai, Hong Kong, Hanoi, and Algiers.
Why These Destinations?
The new routes were chosen due to a growing demand from travelers and residents in these regions. Etihad will become the only non-stop airline connecting Abu Dhabi to many of these cities.
“For several of these destinations, ours will be the only direct flight from the UAE. For instance, if you’re heading to Medan in North Sumatra, Abu Dhabi will be the only departure point,” said Arik De Chief, Etihad’s Revenue and Commercial Officer.
Connecting the World
Many of these flights are optimized for seamless connections to Europe. “Travelers flying from Hanoi to Paris, for example, will benefit from our faster connectivity compared to other airlines in the region,” De Chief added.
Etihad’s expansion also targets travelers from North Africa. Flights to Tunis and Algiers will cater to the large population of Tunisians and Algerians in the UAE.
- Tunis flights: Launching November 1 with three weekly services
- Algiers flights: Starting November 7 with four weekly services
“These new routes are crucial, especially for the 25,000 Algerians and 47,000 Tunisians in Abu Dhabi who previously relied on other carriers,” De Chief noted.
Big Plans for the U.S.
Etihad will add four weekly flights to Atlanta starting July 2, marking it as the fifth U.S. destination after New York, Washington, Chicago, and Boston.
“Atlanta is a significant city in the U.S., and we’re proud to be the only non-stop flight option from the UAE,” De Chief stated.
A Record Year Ahead
Etihad is forecasting 2025 to be its biggest year yet, expecting to carry over 18-19 million passengers with 115 operating aircraft, up from the 10 million passengers and 64 destinations it served in 2022.
Antonaldo Neves, Etihad’s CEO, emphasized the airline’s growth: “We’re operating sustainably with profits increasing by 6% year-on-year. With 95 planes today, we’ve already surpassed our previous size and capacity.”
Expanding in Europe
Etihad is heavily investing in European routes, with a 40% increase in capacity this year and plans for another 36% in 2025. Major European cities now have two daily flights, including Moscow, Dublin, London, Paris, Geneva, Milan, and more.
“This growth in Europe allows us to unlock even more connections to the East,” Neves added.
