Etihad Airways completed its inaugural nonstop flight to Atlanta on Wednesday.
The airline, one of the two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates, is now flying four times a week between Atlanta and Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi using an Airbus A350-1000. Etihad officials said the route was launched to meet growing demand from business and leisure travelers.
Service will move to once daily in November.
Touchdown from Abu Dhabi ??✈️ Welcome, Etihad Airways!
ATL just got even more global with new nonstop service to the UAE.
From ribbon cuttings to water salutes, we rolled out the red carpet for this historic first flight!
?ATL ➡️ Abu Dhabi | ? 4x weekly | ✈️ A350-1000 pic.twitter.com/BChsQIf09g— Atlanta Airport (@ATLairport) July 3, 2025
The flight features 44 business class seats with sliding doors, fully flat beds, wireless charging, and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as 327 economy seats. Travelers departing Abu Dhabi can also take advantage of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facility at Zayed International Airport, the only one of its kind in the region, which lets passengers clear immigration and customs before departure.
“Atlanta is a dynamic city with deep cultural, economic, and aviation significance,” said Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves. “This new service enhances access to the southeastern United States while offering seamless connections across the Middle East, Indian subcontinent, and Asia.”
Etihad now flies nonstop to five destinations in the U.S. – Atlanta, Boston, Chicago-O’Hare, New York-JFK, and Washington Dulles. The airline will add a sixth city, Charlotte, North Carolina, in May 2026.
