Etihad Airways is operating its largest summer schedule on record, with more than 300 daily flights, load factors running close to 90 per cent, and nine destinations either newly launched or returning within a single week.
Summer capacity is up 10 per cent year-on-year, supported by a fleet that has grown by 23 aircraft compared with the same period last year. Between June 11 and 14, the airline launched four routes in four consecutive days: Abu Dhabi to Kraków, Palma de Mallorca, Damascus, and Zanzibar.
Five seasonal routes have also returned: Mykonos and Malaga from June 15, Santorini from June 16, Nice from June 19, and Al Alamein from 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. This week alone we have launched four new destinations and welcomed back five seasonal routes, demonstrating both the strength of demand across our network and the pace of our growth,” Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways said in a statement.
“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,” he added.
Alongside the route expansion, Etihad and the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi have launched complimentary medical travel insurance for international visitors flying into Abu Dhabi on Etihad-operated services.
Available from July to December 2026 and administered by Daman, the scheme covers eligible travellers for up to 15 days of medical care in the UAE. It also extends to passengers using Etihad’s stopover programme.
The returning Mediterranean routes operate at frequencies ranging from twice weekly for Mykonos, Santorini, and Nice, up to four times weekly for Malaga.
