Etihad Airways capped a busy year by unveiling four new routes on 4 November 2025, further cementing Abu Dhabi’s status as a rising global hub. Over a three-day roll-out the carrier launched:
• three weekly A321neo flights to Tunis (1 Nov)
• six weekly Boeing 787-9 flights to Hanoi (2 Nov)
• four weekly A320neos to Chiang Mai (3 Nov)
• five weekly 787-9 services to Hong Kong (3 Nov).
CEO Antonoaldo Neves said the additions will account for almost half of the UAE’s forecast aviation growth this year, delivering thousands of extra weekly seats and opening new one-stop options between Africa, South-East Asia, Greater China and Europe via Abu Dhabi. Codeshares with Hong Kong Airlines and Tunisair expand onward connectivity in Asia and North Africa, while Hanoi positions Etihad to tap Vietnam’s fast-growing outbound middle class.
![Etihad adds Tunis, Hanoi, Chiang Mai and Hong Kong as Abu Dhabi pushes connectivity]()
For corporates, the expansion provides fresh city-pair combinations (e.g., Frankfurt-Abu Dhabi-Chiang Mai) and strengthens Abu Dhabi’s appeal for regional headquarters that need single-stop access to multiple growth markets. Tourism chiefs expect a lift in visitor numbers to Yas Island and the new Saadiyat cultural district, aligning with the UAE’s goal of doubling tourist arrivals by 2031.
The new services also support the government’s industrial and investment roadshows in Tunisia and Vietnam, where sovereign funds have been scouting logistics and renewable projects. Supply-chain managers should note that the belly-hold cargo capacity on the Hanoi and Hong Kong routes adds much-needed lift for electronics and perishables ahead of Lunar New Year.
Taken together with Emirates’ Cairo and Johannesburg frequency increases, Etihad’s four-city launch underscores how Gulf carriers are scaling aggressively again, leveraging strong demand and the region’s strategic geography. Mobility teams should watch for promotional fares in Q1 2026 as Etihad battles to fill seats and build route maturity.
• three weekly A321neo flights to Tunis (1 Nov)
• six weekly Boeing 787-9 flights to Hanoi (2 Nov)
• four weekly A320neos to Chiang Mai (3 Nov)
• five weekly 787-9 services to Hong Kong (3 Nov).
CEO Antonoaldo Neves said the additions will account for almost half of the UAE’s forecast aviation growth this year, delivering thousands of extra weekly seats and opening new one-stop options between Africa, South-East Asia, Greater China and Europe via Abu Dhabi. Codeshares with Hong Kong Airlines and Tunisair expand onward connectivity in Asia and North Africa, while Hanoi positions Etihad to tap Vietnam’s fast-growing outbound middle class.
For corporates, the expansion provides fresh city-pair combinations (e.g., Frankfurt-Abu Dhabi-Chiang Mai) and strengthens Abu Dhabi’s appeal for regional headquarters that need single-stop access to multiple growth markets. Tourism chiefs expect a lift in visitor numbers to Yas Island and the new Saadiyat cultural district, aligning with the UAE’s goal of doubling tourist arrivals by 2031.
The new services also support the government’s industrial and investment roadshows in Tunisia and Vietnam, where sovereign funds have been scouting logistics and renewable projects. Supply-chain managers should note that the belly-hold cargo capacity on the Hanoi and Hong Kong routes adds much-needed lift for electronics and perishables ahead of Lunar New Year.
Taken together with Emirates’ Cairo and Johannesburg frequency increases, Etihad’s four-city launch underscores how Gulf carriers are scaling aggressively again, leveraging strong demand and the region’s strategic geography. Mobility teams should watch for promotional fares in Q1 2026 as Etihad battles to fill seats and build route maturity.
