Etihad Airways. Photo: kamilpetran / Shutterstock.com Etihad Airways is expanding beyond flights with a new travel platform that will allow passengers to book hotels and, eventually, other parts of their trip through the airline.
Called Etihad Escapes, the platform was unveiled at Arabian Travel Market 2026 in Dubai and is scheduled to launch in October 2026. The first version will allow passengers who already have an Etihad flight booking to add hotel accommodation through Etihad.com.
The airline says this will be the starting point for a broader travel platform that will develop throughout 2027. The plan is to bring flights, hotels, loyalty benefits and additional travel services together in a single digital experience.
At launch, passengers will be able to add a hotel to an existing flight booking rather than arranging accommodation separately through another website. Etihad plans to eventually let customers search and book hotels independently and combine flights and accommodation as part of the same booking process.
The service is also expected to move into the Etihad app, with greater personalisation and integration with Etihad Guest. More travel experiences and additional services are planned for later stages.
Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, said the airline wants to make the experience beyond the flight easier for its customers.
“Our guests already choose Etihad to take them to some of the world’s most exciting destinations. With Etihad Escapes, we want to make the rest of their journey just as easy,” Neves said.
He added that the platform is intended to build a closer relationship with customers while creating new opportunities for Etihad and Abu Dhabi.
The hotel inventory for Etihad Escapes will be provided through Expedia Group B2B, while Juniper Travel Technology is supporting the platform's technology infrastructure. Miral Destinations will be a launch partner, connecting Etihad customers with experiences in Abu Dhabi and helping develop packages around the emirate's leisure attractions.
Etihad says more suppliers and partners will be added as the platform develops.
The move comes as airlines increasingly look beyond ticket sales for additional revenue from the wider travel journey. Etihad cited the global holiday market at around US$2.7 trillion, with the market forecast to grow by 6.5% through 2030.
For Etihad, the platform could allow the airline to capture a larger share of what passengers spend on their trips while also supporting tourism in Abu Dhabi.
The airline says Etihad Escapes will eventually connect its growing flight network with accommodation, loyalty services and local experiences. For passengers, the aim is to have more of the trip available through the same digital platform rather than booking each part separately.