Etihad Is Adding Abu Dhabi – Palma de Mallorca For Summer 2026
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Etihad Airways will launch nonstop Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Palma de Mallorca (PMI) service for summer 2026. The seasonal route starts June 12 and runs through mid-September, operating 3x weekly on the Airbus A321LR.
Why Mallorca, why now
Mallorca checks every summer-leisure box: quick access to beaches and calas, yachting and marinas, cycling and hiking in the Tramuntana, plus Palma’s historic old town and nightlife. For Etihad, it’s a smart way to place narrowbody long-range capacity into high-yield peak months without tying up a widebody. It also gives the carrier—and Abu Dhabi—an attractive one-stop holiday option to Mallorcan resorts for travelers across the Middle East, India, and parts of Asia.
First nonstop from the Middle East
Etihad’s flight is slated to be the only nonstop link between the Middle East and Mallorca. Until now, travelers typically connected via Madrid, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Zurich, or London and then hopped a short-haul flight to PMI. Removing that intra-Europe leg should shave hours off total journey times for many origin points across Etihad’s network.
The aircraft & onboard experience
The A321LR is built for missions like this—trans-Med sectors that are a stretch for standard narrowbodies but too thin for a widebody. Expect Etihad’s modern two-class layout with personal device power, streaming or seatback entertainment (product details can vary by tail), and the airline’s upgraded summer soft product. Business travelers and honeymooners get a more boutique cabin than you’ll find on typical holiday charters, while families benefit from the LR’s improved range and comfort versus older single-aisles.
Who benefits most
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GCC & Levant: UAE, KSA, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, and Lebanon gain a fast path to PMI resorts without a European connection.
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India & Pakistan: Popular ex-India summer flows (especially from metros tied strongly to Etihad’s AUH hub) can connect over AUH and go nonstop into PMI.
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Australia/SE Asia: Select timings should line up for long-haul arrivals into AUH to make a same-day connection to Mallorca during peak weeks.
What to watch next
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Exact timings & day-of-week pattern: Etihad will publish schedules closer to sales opening; look for banked arrivals into AUH feeding an AM/PM departure toward PMI.
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Tour packages: Expect Abu Dhabi-origin beach packages and possibly bundled transfers to Alcúdia, Pollença, Calvià, and Andratx.
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Partner redemptions: Keep an eye on Etihad Guest and major partners for mileage awards once inventory opens; summer leisure routes can show decent economy availability early.
Booking tips
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Lock early for July–August: School holidays move prices quickly on Balearic routes; earlier typically means cheaper.
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Midweek can be kinder: If your plans are flexible, midweek flights often price better and keep resort rates down.
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Consider open-jaw: Fly into PMI, ferry or hop to Ibiza (IBZ) or Menorca (MAH), then return from there—Mallorca island-hopping is easy in summer.
Bigger picture: Etihad’s leisure push
This addition fits Etihad’s broader summer-leisure expansion track, which has recently included a mix of Mediterranean and city-break destinations alongside a growing long-haul map. The carrier keeps threading seasonal, point-to-point “sun” routes that still feed its network—maximizing LR fleet utilization while diversifying beyond pure hub-and-spoke business travel.
Bottom line
From June to mid-September 2026, Etihad will fly AUH–PMI three times weekly on the A321LR, creating the first nonstop Middle East–Mallorca link. It’s a well-timed, low-risk seasonal play that trims travel time to one of Europe’s favorite island escapes—just in time for peak beach season.
