Etihad Airways Announces Abu Dhabi – Charlotte
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Etihad Airways will launch nonstop Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Charlotte (CLT) service on March 23, 2026, moving the start date up by several weeks from its original May plan. The route will operate 4x weekly with a Boeing 787-9, expanding Etihad’s U.S. footprint into one of the Southeast’s fastest-growing hubs.
Schedule & Block Times
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EY15: Abu Dhabi (AUH) → Charlotte (CLT)
Dep 03:35 / Arr 10:40 (block ~15:05, westbound) -
EY16: Charlotte (CLT) → Abu Dhabi (AUH)
Dep 15:10 / Arr 12:25 (+1 day) (block ~13:15, eastbound)
Days of operation: Sun / Mon / Wed / Fri in both directions
Stage length: ~7,408 miles (ultra-long-haul)
As with all Etihad long-haul departures from Abu Dhabi (AUH) bound for the United States, customers clear U.S. CBP Preclearance in AUH, arriving into Charlotte (CLT) as a domestic flight.
Aircraft & Onboard Product
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Type: Boeing 787-9 (two cabins)
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Seats: 28 Business (fully flat) + 262 Economy
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Notables: Lower cabin altitude and humidity control typical of the 787 family, large dimmable windows, and Wi-Fi/IFE consistent with Etihad’s long-haul standard.
Network Context: Why Charlotte (CLT)?
This launch makes Charlotte (CLT) Etihad’s sixth U.S. destination, joining Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), New York JFK (JFK), and Washington Dulles (IAD). Charlotte (CLT) is a major connecting hub in the U.S. Southeast, offering extensive domestic feed for long-haul flows to India, the Gulf, Africa, and Southeast Asia via Abu Dhabi (AUH).
Strategically, CLT is also a large fortress hub with strong corporate and conference travel, high-income catchments across the Carolinas, and growing inbound tourism to the region—an attractive mix for a 4x weekly ultra-long-haul that can scale with demand.
Competitive Landscape & Partnerships
Etihad becomes the first Gulf carrier to fly Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Charlotte (CLT). While Etihad maintains a partnership with American Airlines, the CLT announcement emphasized market growth and one-stop global access through Abu Dhabi (AUH) rather than a specific codeshare narrative. The move aligns with Etihad’s recent U.S. expansion cadence—adding at least one new destination per year—and its focus on high-utility hubs east of the Mississippi for ultra-long-haul economics.
Booking & Connectivity Tips
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Bookings: Available on etihad.com and standard agency channels.
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Connections at AUH: Timed for onward links to Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Bengaluru (BLR), Hyderabad (HYD), Jeddah (JED), Riyadh (RUH), Johannesburg (JNB), Nairobi (NBO), Bangkok (BKK), and Kuala Lumpur (KUL), among others.
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Cargo: The 787-9 offers meaningful belly capacity supporting Carolinas export flows (pharma, advanced manufacturing) and inbound e-commerce.
Bottom Line
Etihad will debut Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Charlotte (CLT) on March 23, 2026, 4x weekly with the Boeing 787-9 (28J/262Y). The schedule leverages U.S. Preclearance at AUH and CLT’s strong domestic feed to open new one-stop options between the Carolinas and Etihad’s network across India, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia—a notable U.S. expansion into a major Southeast hub.
