It seems that Etihad Airways has a bit of an adventurous spirit, with the airline selecting Calgary, Canada, as its next long-haul destination.
The new route opens up a link between the Middle East and Western Canada. It’s planned to commence on 3rd November 2026, operating four times a week.
According to the airline, it will directly link two globally recognised centres of energy, innovation and culture, strengthening economic ties while opening new opportunities for business and leisure travellers alike.
Planned operations are as follows:
EY029 DEPART AUH 08:45 ARRIVE YYC 12:00 EY030 DEPART YYC 18:05 ARRIVE AUH 19:00+1 Commences 3rd November 2026 Operates Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays in both directions Booked Equipment: Boeing 787-9
The new service will operate with an Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9, featuring its Business and Economy Class cabins.
Flights are now on sale by Etihad Airways, as well as through its usual sales channels.
In Quotes
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer at Etihad Airways, said:
“The launch of our Abu Dhabi–Calgary service is both a significant and historic step in Etihad’s global expansion. By creating the only nonstop link between the Middle East and Western Canada, we are opening new opportunities for trade, tourism and investment, while giving travellers direct access to two distinctive and globally important destinations.
“This is an exciting announcement for us, bringing together two remarkable places. For Canadian travellers, it opens direct access to Abu Dhabi’s rich culture and year-round experiences, while guests from the UAE and across our network gain seamless access to Calgary and the natural beauty of Western Canada. It is a route designed to stimulate two-way tourism and deepen ties between our regions.”
Chris Dinsdale, President and CEO of Calgary Airports, said:
“Calgary Airports is proud to partner with Etihad Airways to link two great cities. This direct route is key to connecting our region’s leisure and business travellers to important locations in the Middle East, as well as a wealth of linked destinations in Africa, Asia and around the world.”
Calgary becomes Etihad’s latest long-haul addition, following recent route announcements including Luxembourg and Palma. Each new destination reflects the airline’s strategy of opening new markets with clear economic, trade and tourism relevance, while expanding the range of destinations available to travellers from the UAE and across Etihad’s international network.
Further expansion
With Calgary joining the Etihad Airways network, it will join Luxembourg and Palma, which are also scheduled to join during the year as the airline transitions from a boutique network to a broader network with economic, trade, and tourism relevance.
In terms of North America, Calgary joins Toronto, New York and Chicago, as well as Charlotte, due to begin operations in March.
With growth on the agenda, it seems Etihad is striking new links and destinations – even on a four-day-a-week basis. We’ll have to see if the route is viable in the longer term.
Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond. Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, in-depth coverage, unique research, as well as the humour and madness I only know how to deliver.
Our Social Media pool has expanded. You can find us across most networks as @economybeyond on BlueSky, Threads, Mastodon and Instagram!
Also, remember that we are part of the BoardingArea community, bringing you the latest frequent flyer news from around the world.
Leave a Reply