Etihad Airways has selected a new US Gateway – and it’s Charlotte, NC.
Etihad Boeing 787-9 in its “Greenliner” livery – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
In a listing of firsts, it will be the first airline in the Middle Eastern region to fly a direct service to Charlotte.
You will have to wait a while, as the airline is planning to launch the service on the 4th May 2006, with the airline operating four times a week between Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi and Charlotte Douglas International Airport .
The planned operations are as follows (subject to changes).
EY015 DEPART AUH 03:15 ARRIVE CLT 10:15 EY016 DEPART CLT 14:40 ARRIVE AUH 12:25+1 Commences 4th May 2026 Operates Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in both directions Booked Equipment: Boeing 787-9
Charlotte becomes Etihad’s sixth destination in the United States, joining New York, Chicago, Washington, Boston, and Atlanta, which launches 2 July 2025.
This flight will operate with a Boeing 787-9 on this route, featuring both business and economy class cabins, with 15 hour flight on the way out and just under 14 hours on the return trip.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, ranking sixth globally for aircraft movements in 2024—a reflection of the city’s growing importance as a major transport hub.
There should be onward connections possible with American Airlines, as well as other carriers (as Charlotte is a fortress-hub for them. In the other direction, it should provide connections with both the morning and afternoon transfer banks to destinations across the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, and Asia.
Passengers travelling to the U.S. benefit from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, enabling them to arrive in Charlotte as domestic passengers, ensuring a smooth and time-saving arrival experience.
In Quotes
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, said:
“Charlotte represents a strategic addition to our U.S. network, unlocking direct access to one of the country’s most dynamic and fast-growing regions,”
“We’re excited to be the first airline from our region to serve this market, and we look forward to connecting more travellers to Abu Dhabi and beyond.”
That’s… different.
It seems that Etihad Airways is trying something a little different, looking at Charlotte instead of previous destinations such as Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles or San Francisco, keeping the flight hours and distance down (compared to flying to the West Coast).
With Eithad looking to fly into an American Airlines fortress hub, you can bet that American Airlines will be counting the numbers to see the viability of a response, along with its oneworld colleagues.
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