Alberta travellers will gain their first nonstop link to the Gulf as Etihad Airways announced on 29 January a Calgary–Abu Dhabi service starting November 2026. The route, to be flown three times weekly with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, comes after months of negotiations between the airline, Calgary International Airport (YYC) and the provincial government.
Premier Danielle Smith called the deal “a strategic win” that builds on Alberta-UAE trade, which reached CA$303 million in 2024. Calgary will become Etihad’s second Canadian gateway after Toronto, giving Western Canadian energy firms and tech exporters a one-stop connection to South Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Before passengers book their seats, it’s worth noting that Canadians still need to arrange entry documents for the UAE and many onward points in South Asia or Africa. VisaHQ’s Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) lets travellers and corporate mobility teams check real-time visa requirements, submit electronic applications and receive status updates—cutting the red tape so the new nonstop truly feels seamless.
![Etihad to launch Calgary–Abu Dhabi nonstop, deepening Canada–UAE corridor]()
For global-mobility teams the route reduces travel time to Abu Dhabi and onward destinations such as Riyadh or Bangalore by up to five hours compared with existing one-stop options via Toronto or European hubs. It could also ease pressure on Toronto’s congested Pearson airport and decentralise air-access risk during winter disruptions.
YYC continues to position itself as Canada’s western long-haul hub; last year it secured Lufthansa Technik’s CA$120 million engine-maintenance facility and is courting additional Asian carriers. Etihad’s entry may spur competitive responses from Emirates or Qatar Airways, benefitting fare diversity.
The announcement, however, hinges on Transport Canada approving additional bilateral frequencies under the Canada–UAE air-services agreement, a file the federal government has historically approached cautiously. Stakeholders expect a formal amendment later this spring.
Premier Danielle Smith called the deal “a strategic win” that builds on Alberta-UAE trade, which reached CA$303 million in 2024. Calgary will become Etihad’s second Canadian gateway after Toronto, giving Western Canadian energy firms and tech exporters a one-stop connection to South Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Before passengers book their seats, it’s worth noting that Canadians still need to arrange entry documents for the UAE and many onward points in South Asia or Africa. VisaHQ’s Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) lets travellers and corporate mobility teams check real-time visa requirements, submit electronic applications and receive status updates—cutting the red tape so the new nonstop truly feels seamless.
For global-mobility teams the route reduces travel time to Abu Dhabi and onward destinations such as Riyadh or Bangalore by up to five hours compared with existing one-stop options via Toronto or European hubs. It could also ease pressure on Toronto’s congested Pearson airport and decentralise air-access risk during winter disruptions.
YYC continues to position itself as Canada’s western long-haul hub; last year it secured Lufthansa Technik’s CA$120 million engine-maintenance facility and is courting additional Asian carriers. Etihad’s entry may spur competitive responses from Emirates or Qatar Airways, benefitting fare diversity.
The announcement, however, hinges on Transport Canada approving additional bilateral frequencies under the Canada–UAE air-services agreement, a file the federal government has historically approached cautiously. Stakeholders expect a formal amendment later this spring.
