Etihad Airways will inaugurate year-round service from Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport (AUH) to Saudi Arabia's Red Sea International Airport (RSI) on 4 October 2026. The route launches with one weekly departure on Sundays before adding a Thursday service from 25 October 2026, bringing frequency to twice weekly. The airline will operate an Airbus A320 configured with eight business-class and 150 economy seats on the approximately three-hour crossing.
The new destination marks Etihad's sixth point in Saudi Arabia, complementing existing services to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah and Al Qassim. The carrier describes it as a shift from a network focused on religious and corporate travel toward leisure, positioning Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coastline with its coral reefs, islands and luxury resorts as an alternative to long-haul beach destinations.
Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer, said the route would allow passengers to access a destination normally associated with long-haul travel in just over three hours from Abu Dhabi. The airline also highlighted the service's utility within its Abu Dhabi Stopover programme, allowing international transit passengers to combine a UAE visit with a Red Sea segment.
Red Sea International Airport (RSI) is operated by daa International and serves the Red Sea and AMAALA tourism developments in the Tabuk region. The Etihad service contributes to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 tourism expansion targets. Michael White, Chief Commercial Officer of RSI, described the Etihad partnership as opening the region to guests from across the UAE and beyond via Abu Dhabi connections.
Sources
- Etihad Airways official press release
- Zawya / Red Sea International Airport press release
- Aviation Week Routes and Networks
Sources & references (4)
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