Photo Credit: WAM
Dubai, UAE — June 2026 — Etihad Airways has kicked off its most ambitious summer schedule to date, operating more than 300 flights a day as the airline records passenger numbers it has never seen before.
The milestone comes on the back of nine new or relaunched destinations going live within days of each other, underscoring what has become an accelerating surge in demand to, from, and through Abu Dhabi.
According to a press release, summer capacity is up 10 percent year-on-year, supported by a fleet that has grown by 23 aircraft compared to the same period last year. With load factors approaching 90 percent, that demand is being felt across the full breadth of the airline’s network, from Asia and Africa to Europe and North America.
Between 11 and 14 June 2026, Etihad successfully launched four brand-new routes connecting Abu Dhabi with Kraków, Palma de Mallorca, Damascus, and Zanzibar. This week, the airline is also welcoming back five popular seasonal destinations: Mykonos and Málaga from 15 June, Santorini from 16 June, Nice from 19 June, and El Alamein from 16 July.
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said the airline is now carrying more guests to more destinations than at any point in its history. “This week alone, we launched four new destinations and welcomed back five seasonal ones — that speaks to both the strength of demand on our network and the pace of our growth,” he said.
“As we enter the peak of summer travel, we are delivering our most ambitious summer programme ever, backed by 23 additional aircraft and strong demand from every corner of the world. We continue to grow with confidence, expanding our route network, increasing our capacity, and bringing more visitors to Abu Dhabi.”
Complementing the expanded flight programme, Etihad and the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi have jointly launched a complimentary travel medical insurance scheme for international visitors arriving in the capital on Etihad flights.
Available from July through December 2026 and administered by National General Insurance – Daman, the initiative provides eligible travellers with up to 15 days of medical coverage in the UAE.
The offer extends to passengers using Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Stopover programme, which has continued to draw growing numbers of transit travellers looking to turn a layover into a short break.
