Etihad goes double daily on Abu Dhabi–Sydney from December

Etihad Airways will operate double daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Sydney from December 15, 2026, adding four weekly services to the current ten and bringing the total to 14 departures a week on the route. All flights will be operated by the Airbus A350.

The airline has served Sydney since 2007. The expanded schedule puts more than 5,000 seats a week on the route and gives travellers a morning and evening departure on every day of the week.

The two daily banks align with Etihad’s Abu Dhabi connections into Europe, including same-day onward services to London, Manchester, Dublin, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf, Zurich, Geneva, Milan, Rome, Madrid and Barcelona.

On board the A350, Business Class passengers get a private suite with a door, a 79-inch lie-flat bed, wireless charging and an 18.5-inch screen. Economy seats are 17.4 inches wide with a 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen and Bluetooth audio. High-speed Wi-Fi runs throughout the aircraft.

“Double daily flights give our guests even greater flexibility when travelling between Australia and Etihad’s growing global network. The additional service strengthens connectivity through Abu Dhabi, creating more seamless access to destinations across the Middle East and Europe, while making it easier for travellers to experience Abu Dhabi and discover everything the emirate has to offer as part of their journey. More flights mean more opportunities to explore new destinations, reconnect with family and friends, do business across continents, or break up the journey with a memorable stopover in one of the world’s most dynamic and fast-growing cities,” Arik De, Etihad Airways Chief Revenue & Commercial Officer said in a statement.

Guests stopping over in Abu Dhabi can access the airline’s Abu Dhabi Stopover programme, which covers one or two complimentary hotel nights and now includes Al Ain, with its UNESCO-listed gardens, forts and Jebel Hafeet mountain.

Travellers connecting onward from Sydney can reach the broader Etihad network across the Gulf, Middle East, Indian subcontinent, Africa and Europe.

The extra Sydney frequency also improves access to Australia and New Zealand, with onward connections available through Qantas, Jetstar and Air New Zealand. Etihad also operates a daily Abu Dhabi–Melbourne service on the Boeing 787.