Etihad to launch ten new routes in 2025
Etihad to launch ten new routes in 2025
The Abu Dhabi-based carrier has lined up ten new destinations for next year with seven of them in Asia. They won’t be hitting the runway until the winter timetable takes off towards the end of the year but it is thought that none of the destinations are currently served by direct flights from the UAE. The new Asian destinations will be; Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Krabi, Medan, Phnom Penh, and Taipei.
“This expansion reflects our commitment to listening to our valued guests. We’ve carefully chosen cities that embody the experiences, adventures, and opportunities that matter to them. Whether seeking inspiring landscapes, vibrant cultural experiences, reuniting with family and friends, pursuing business growth, or educational journeys, our new routes will help make their travel dreams a reality,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad’s Chief Executive Officer.
First out of the blocks will be a daily service to Taipei commencing on September 7th. Flight number EY898 will take off from Zayed International Airport at 21:45 and arrive in Taipei the following morning at 09:50. The return leg, flight number EY899 will depart from Taipei at 19:35 and arrive back in Abu Dhabi at 00:15 the next day.
A service to Hong Kong will commence on November 3rd and operate on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Flight number EY870 will take off from Abu Dhabi at 21:45 and land at Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok Airport at 08:40 the next morning. The return journey, flight number EY871, leaves Hong Kong on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 19:25 landing back in Abu Dhabi at 00:15 the next day.
Both flights will deploy Boeing 787-900 aircraft.
Five in Southeast Asia
The airline will serve two new destinations in Thailand. A daily flight to Krabi will take off on October 9th. Flight number EY424, will depart at 08:50 and arrive at 18:40. The return leg, flight number EY425, departs from Krabi at 20:40 arriving back home at 00:30 the next morning.
From November 3rd, Chiang Mai will be served by four flights a week on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Flight number EY426 will depart at 21:10 and land in Chiang Mai at 05:55 the next morning. The return leg departs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with flight number EY427 taking off from Chaing Mai at 08:45 and landing back In Abu Dhabi at 13:00.
Phnom Penh will be served with four flights a week from October 3rd which will increase to five from November 6th. EY434 will take off from Abu Dhabi at 21:10 on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, arriving in Phnom Penh at 07:20 the next day. It returns as flight number EY435 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays,* and Saturdays departing from Phnom Penh at 08:40 and arriving back in Abu Dhabi at 13:00.
Daily flights to Hanoi will commence on November 3rd with flight number EY430 departing at 08:45 and arriving at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport at 18:10. The return trip, flight number EY431, leaves Hanoi at 19:25 and lands back in Abu Dhabi at 00:30.
A direct route to Medan on the Indonesian island of Sumatra is scheduled to launch on October 2nd with departures on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays but at the time of writing, reservations did not appear to be open.
All flights to Southeast Asia will use Airbus 321 neo aircraft.
The remaining three flights being introduced next year will serve Atlanta in the US plus Algiers and Tunis in North Africa.
Picture: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner by Md Shaifuzzaman Ayon via Wikimedia Commons
Related: India connects with Dubai and Brunei