Image credit: WAM/Website
Etihad Airways has launched direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Madinah this week, expanding its strong presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and reinforcing its position as a major facilitator of regional and international travel. The new service enhances travel options for religious, business, and leisure travellers, underscoring the airline’s commitment to key strategic markets.
The direct service reconnects Abu Dhabi with Madinah, one of the world’s most spiritually significant cities and a central destination for religious tourism. The route will support rising demand from global pilgrims and travellers seeking seamless connections to the kingdom’s holy city, according to a WAM report.
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With this launch, Madinah becomes the latest addition to Etihad’s growing Saudi operations. The UAE’s national carrier now operates 93 weekly flights across five Saudi cities, including four daily services to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, and three weekly flights to Al Qassim.
The move forms part of Etihad’s broader growth strategy, which has seen the announcement of 31 new destinations in a single year.
Commitment to connectivity and growth
Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, said the Madinah service reflects the airline’s long-term commitment to strengthening connectivity between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia, one of its most important markets.
“Madinah carries profound cultural and spiritual significance for millions of people, and we are honoured to provide convenient travel through Abu Dhabi to this culturally and spiritually important city,” Neves said. “With this new route, we look forward to supporting religious travel and providing guests with greater access, choice, and convenience through our home in Abu Dhabi.”
Captain Majed Al Marzouqi, chief Operations and Guest Officer at Etihad Airways, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the launch of flights to Madinah gives travellers more flexibility and convenience when flying to and from Saudi Arabia via Abu Dhabi.
Al Marzouqi highlighted that the expansion reflects Etihad’s focus on positioning Abu Dhabi as a premier global aviation hub, linking East and West through Zayed International Airport.
Promoting Abu Dhabi as a stopover destination
Etihad is also leveraging its extensive international network to promote Abu Dhabi as a destination in its own right. Passengers connecting through the capital to Madinah can take advantage of a complimentary Abu Dhabi Stopover package, which offers two free nights in one of the city’s top hotels.
Abu Dhabi presents a mix of heritage and modernity, featuring cultural icons such as the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, alongside world-class attractions on Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, TeamLab Phenomena, and several major theme parks.
With its strategic location, travellers flying from Madinah gain smooth access to Etihad’s vast global network spanning Asia, Australia, and Europe.
Expanding horizons across Asia
Etihad’s regional growth is not limited to the Middle East. The airline continues to broaden its reach across Asia, with recent route launches to Sumatra (Medan), Phnom Penh, Addis Ababa, and Krabi in October, followed by new services to Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Hong Kong, and Tunis in November.
The new Hong Kong service marks a significant milestone in Etihad’s Asian expansion and sets the stage for a deeper partnership with Hong Kong Airlines.
Etihad Airways and Hong Kong Airlines have officially launched a codeshare partnership, complemented by a reciprocal loyalty agreement aimed at enhancing customer experience and expanding reach across key Asian markets.
The agreement was signed in Hong Kong during an event marking the arrival of Etihad’s inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi to Hong Kong International Airport.
Under the codeshare arrangement, Hong Kong Airlines flights between Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi are now bookable as Etihad ‘EY’ services. Similarly, travellers can fly Etihad to multiple Japanese destinations, including Fukuoka, Hokkaido-Sapporo, Osaka, and Okinawa—on Hong Kong Airlines-operated flights under the ‘HX’ code. This integration allows passengers to travel on a single ticket, with one check-in and seamless baggage transfer, positioning Abu Dhabi as an efficient bridge between Greater China, Japan, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.
Boosting loyalty through cross-network benefits
The partnership extends beyond route integration. Once fully implemented, members of Etihad Guest and Hong Kong Airlines’ Fortune Wings Club will enjoy reciprocal earn-and-redeem privileges across both airlines’ entire networks.
This initiative strengthens Etihad Guest’s position as the most globally connected non-alliance loyalty programme, adding to its growing list of international partners. The agreement also complements Etihad’s long-standing collaboration with Hainan Airlines, enabling Fortune Wings Club members to collect and redeem points on Etihad’s newly launched Hong Kong service.
Arik De, chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, said the partnership delivers significant benefits for loyal customers.
“This partnership delivers meaningful value to Etihad Guest members through full earn-and-redeem access across Hong Kong Airlines’ network, complemented by codeshare connectivity to high-demand Japanese destinations,” De said. “It underscores our commitment to providing our loyal guests with greater flexibility, broader reach, and superior rewards.”
Louis Li, executive VP of Hong Kong Airlines, described the agreement as a key milestone in Hong Kong Airlines’ international resurgence.
“The expansion of our codeshare and the launch of a reciprocal loyalty programme not only benefit travellers from both airlines but also lay the foundation for deeper commercial collaboration,” Li said. “Our partnership with Etihad, established in 2014, remains strong and will boost trade, tourism, and connectivity between Hong Kong and the Middle East.”
Taken together, Etihad’s expansion into Madinah and its renewed strategic ties with Hong Kong Airlines underscore the airline’s bold global growth trajectory. By connecting key religious and economic hubs and deepening partnerships across continents, Etihad is solidifying its position as a leading global connector from its Abu Dhabi base.
The dual focus on network expansion and collaborative partnerships reflects Etihad’s broader mission: transforming Abu Dhabi into one of the world’s most connected aviation centers while offering passengers a seamless travel experience enriched by cultural and geographic diversity.
