Etihad Airways Makes History: First-Ever Direct Route from the Gulf to a Major U.S. City

Etihad Airways continues to make headlines and establish itself as one of the world's most dynamic and courageous airlines.

Now, it announces a new direct route to Charlotte (CLT), North Carolina, set to begin on May 4, 2026.

This marks a significant milestone—the first time a Gulf airline has operated direct flights to this southern city, considered an economic, cultural, and logistical hub in North America.

The new route will operate four times a week using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, offering passengers the airline's award-winning service in both business and economy classes.

“Charlotte represents a strategic addition to our U.S. network,” said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad. “We are excited to be the first to connect Charlotte directly to Abu Dhabi, providing passengers easy access to our global network.”

Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9/ Shutterstock

Charlotte will be Etihad’s sixth U.S. destination, alongside New York, Chicago, Washington, Boston, and Atlanta (joining in July 2025). The airline notes that the schedule is designed to allow convenient connections from Abu Dhabi to the Middle East, the Indian sub-continent, and Asia.

In addition to expanding into new markets, it is noteworthy that Etihad has been continuously operating to Israel nearly without pause since the outbreak of Iron Swords War.

Recently, the airline announced it will operate 28 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Ben Gurion Airport, maintaining a stable air bridge between Israel and the UAE.

Etihad’s persistence in operating to Israel, even during sensitive security periods, underscores its commitment to the Israeli market and its ability to balance business resilience, regional stability, and forward-looking global vision.

Enhanced Flight Experience – Arrive Like Locals

Travelers departing from Charlotte will enjoy easy and quick connections to destinations in the East, including India, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines—thanks to a convenient and efficient flight schedule. Another significant advantage: passengers entering the U.S. from Abu Dhabi undergo preclearance at Zayed Airport, allowing them to land at Charlotte as a domestic flight and avoid entry delays.

Etihad Airways is showcasing extensive growth in 2025, including new destinations across Asia, North America, and North Africa. This significant expansion will further strengthen the airline’s global presence.

Etihad's new routes for 2025:

Atlanta, USA: 4 times a week, from July 2, 2025

Taipei, Taiwan: 7 times a week, from September 7, 2025

Medan, Indonesia: 3 times a week, from October 2, 2025

Phnom Penh, Cambodia: 5 times a week, from October 3, 2025

Krabi, Thailand: 7 times a week, from October 9, 2025

Tunis, Tunisia: 3 times a week, from November 1, 2025

Chiang Mai, Thailand: 4 times a week, from November 3, 2025

Hong Kong, China: 5 times a week, from November 3, 2025

Hanoi, Vietnam: 6 times a week, from November 3, 2025

Algiers, Algeria: 4 times a week, from November 7, 2025

By the end of 2025, Etihad will offer direct flights from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport to 93 destinations worldwide.

Additionally, heading into summer, Etihad will also launch a route to Russia, to Sochi, a Black Sea resort, and in light of most Western airlines ceasing flights to Russia due to international sanctions following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the airline has increased its flights to Russia, with a third daily flight between Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow.