Etihad adds Atlanta as part of 10-destination expansion in 2025

Etihad Airways will add Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to its map next year as part of a 10-destination, three-continent expansion unveiled on Monday.

The Gulf carrier will link Atlanta to its hub at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH) four times a week beginning July 2. Etihad will fly the Abu Dhabi-Atlanta route with an Airbus A350-1000 that features its new posh business class cabin with 44 seats, as well as 327 economy seats.

Atlanta is Etihad’s fifth U.S. destination after Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) — flights began in March — Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD). Fliers departing Abu Dhabi for the U.S. benefit from a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance facility there that allows them to arrive in the U.S. as domestic travelers.

Etihad chief revenue officer Arik De hinted at a new U.S. city in October as part of a planned 20-destination expansion in 2025. “We have a lot of growth coming,” he said at the time, adding that the airline expected to grow next year beyond its peak in 2017.

Etihad’s other new destinations are:

• Taipei, Taiwan, on a Boeing 787 from Sept. 7
• Medan, Indonesia, on an Airbus A321LR from Oct. 3
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on an A321LR from Oct. 3
• Krabi, Thailand, on an A321LR from Oct. 9
• Tunis, Tunisia, on an A321LR from Nov. 1
• Chiang Mai, Thailand, on an A321LR from Nov. 3
• Hanoi, Vietnam, on an A321LR from Nov. 3
• Hong Kong on a 787 from Nov. 3
• Algiers, Algeria, on an A321LR from Nov. 7

The airline previously announced plans to add El Alamein International Airport (DBB) in Egypt, Vaclav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) and Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) to its map next June and July.

Etihad’s latest expansion is anchored by the A321LR, a longer-range variant of the popular A321neo that can fly up to 4,600 miles. JetBlue Airways uses the same aircraft for its transatlantic flying that includes nonstops to six European airports from Boston and JFK.

De said in October that Etihad expects its first A321LRs early next year and plans to unveil details of the onboard product in late February.

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“It’s going to have a full flat bed, all-aisle access and that best-in-class product that Etihad delivers,” he said.

The A321LR, De added, “will fly us to many places that the [Boeing] 777, 787 and A350s are just a little too big. Expect a lot of destinations — secondary cities in Europe and Asia come into play.”

The 13 new destinations Etihad has announced to date in 2025 include seven secondary cities in Europe and Asia, ranging from Prague to Hanoi and Krabi.

Etihad’s growth follows a major restructuring of its business that began in 2017. The airline slashed its schedule and ended many of its money-losing investments in secondary airlines around the world, including now-defunct Air Berlin, the former Alitalia and Virgin Australia.

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Booking award flights on Etihad

If you’re hoping to book a flight on Etihad — whether you’re traveling to Abu Dhabi or hoping to connect to another final destination — there are a few ways your points and miles can come in handy.

American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards all transfer to Etihad Guest at a 1:1 rate.

Etihad also has a handful of North American loyalty partners, including American Airlines, JetBlue and Air Canada. That means you can use AAdvantage, TrueBlue and Aeroplan loyalty currency to book partner flights on Etihad metal.

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