Etihad Airways has launched four international routes from Abu Dhabi as it enters what the airline describes as its “largest summer season ever”, operating more than 300 flights a day.
The UAE's national carrier now flies to Krakow in Poland, Palma de Mallorca in Spain, Damascus in Syria and Zanzibar in Tanzania, with the routes launched over four consecutive days between June 11 and June 14.
The airline is also bringing back five seasonal summer routes. Services to the Greek islands of Mykonos and Santorini resumed on June 15 and June 16, respectively, while flights to Malaga in Spain restarted on June 15. Nice in France returns on June 19, followed by Egypt's Mediterranean resort city of Al Alamein on July 16.
“Today, Etihad is flying more guests to more destinations than ever before. We are operating more than 300 flights a day, carrying near-record loads and connecting Abu Dhabi with more destinations than ever before,” said chief executive Antonoaldo Neves.
“As we enter the peak summer travel period, we are delivering our most ambitious summer programme yet. Supported by 23 additional aircraft and strong demand from across the world, we continue to grow with confidence, expanding our network, increasing capacity and bringing more visitors to Abu Dhabi.”
Etihad said summer capacity is up 10 per cent compared to the same period last year, while flights are operating at close to 90 per cent load factors. The airline said demand for travel to, from and through Abu Dhabi remains strong across its network.
The airline had been operating at about 85 per cent of capacity in early June, Neves said at the International Air Transport Association (Iata) annual meeting in Rio de Janeiro. It is expected to pass pre-war levels by the middle of the month.
Strong demand from corporate travellers and UAE residents has helped drive the recovery, alongside robust traffic between the US and India routed through Abu Dhabi, Neves said.
Iata expects this year to leave Middle East carriers with a collective $4.3 billion loss, the only region forecast to lose money in 2026, because of its exposure to the conflict. Neves has said Etihad will hold airfares near pre-war levels despite higher jet fuel prices, referring to a hedging programme that covers a cost making up about 30 per cent of the airline's expenses. He expects fuel to stay elevated until the end of the year as shipments take time to normalise even after the Strait of Hormuz reopens.
The war has not altered Etihad's growth plans, Neves added, with the carrier adding wide-body jets including Airbus A350s, A330neos and Boeing 787s as it invests $2 billion annually in new aircraft. Deliveries are expected from 2028 after Etihad secured earlier slots. “We're going to do more, quicker and faster of everything,” he said.
The network expansion comes days after Etihad and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi announced complimentary medical travel insurance for eligible international visitors flying to or through the emirate.
The cover, which will be available between July and December, provides up to 15 days of medical insurance in the UAE and also applies to travellers using Etihad's stopover programme. The initiative is being administered by The National Insurance Company – Daman.
Air travel in the Gulf is beginning to recover following a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran, with a formal peace agreement expected to be signed later this week.
The easing of tensions has allowed airlines across the region to restore services after months of disruption caused by airspace restrictions and security concerns. The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority announced the full resumption of normal air traffic operations across the country on May 2.
