Emirati flag carrier Etihad is expanding its presence in mainland China from one airport to six.
The airline announced Monday that it will offer nonstop service from Abu Dhabi to Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen. Flights to Shanghai will commence Oct. 1, while the four other routes will launch in early March 2027.
All five new connections will operate with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
According to its schedule, Etihad plans to offer seven weekly flights to Shanghai and Guangzhou, five weekly flights to Hangzhou and Shenzhen, and four weekly flights to Chengdu.
Etihad officials said the routes will support growing trade and investment ties between China and the United Arab Emirates, and solidify the UAE as a gateway between East Asia and the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
“China is a strategically important market for Etihad and a key pillar of our network growth,” Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves said in a news release. “This expansion represents a significant increase in capacity and a clear signal of our long-term commitment to the market.”
Currently, Etihad’s only destination in mainland China is Beijing Daxing. The carrier also serves Hong Kong, which is one of the country’s two special administrative regions.
