Etihad launches Abu... | Connecting Travel

UAE airline’s sixth destination in the US will begin May 2026

Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national airline, is launching flights from Abu Dhabi to Charlotte in the US from 4 May 2026.

This move makes Etihad the only airline from the Middle East to connect with North Carolina's largest city, and one of the fastest-growing cities in the US.

The non-stop Abu Dhabi-Charlotte service will operate four times a week on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and will become Etihad’s sixth destination in the US, joining New York, Chicago, Washington, Boston and Atlanta.

Etihad is increasing its new service to Atlanta before it even takes off, due to popular demand on the route. Launching with four weekly flights from 2 July 2025, the service will run daily from 1 November.

That means Etihad will operate the UAE’s only non-stop service to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), the world’s busiest airport in 2024 handling 108.1 million travellers.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) may lag behind ATL as an aviation hub but it is catching up. It is one of the busiest airports in the world, ranking sixth globally for aircraft movements in 2024, and 23rd in terms of passengers, with more than 58.8 million. That’s an increase of 10% on 2023.

“Charlotte represents a strategic addition to our US network, unlocking direct access to one of the country’s most dynamic and fast-growing regions,” said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways.

As well as being a centre for finance, technology, sport and culture, with plenty of museums, Charlotte has an impressive outdoor scene with everything from urban parks to wild river adventures and hiking and biking trails.

Guests travelling to the US from Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi can benefit from US Customs and Border Protection Preclearance, meaning they arrive in Charlotte as domestic passengers, saving time and stress at the border.

Travellers from Charlotte will enjoy one-stop connections to destinations across the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, and Asia.

For more information, visit www.etihad.com

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