Etihad Airways, the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi, announced this week that starting June 15, it will expand to 42 weekly flights on its Tel Aviv route.
With 6 daily flights between Ben-Gurion Airport and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, the TLV-AUH route will become the most frequently traveled route in Etihad’s network. The company announced an expansion of its operations in Israel, even as most foreign airlines have yet to fully resume flights to Tel Aviv.
The expansion comes as Israeli demand for flights to Asia surges. Over 100,000 passengers flew between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi during the first three months, representing a 30% increase compared to the same period last year, according to data published by Etihad.
The Airline also stated that roughly 70% of passengers used Abu Dhabi as a stopover for flights heading further east to Asia.
Etihad has also announced its proposed prices for some high-demand flights. They expect a round-trip ticket to Bangkok, Thailand, to start at $974 without a checked bag, and $1,014 with a checked bag, a competitive price that, according to the airline, places it below the average market price of $1,200.
Flight industry’s complex return to service in Israel
Other foreign carriers have been hesitant to resume flights to Israel amid ongoing conflict risks. American Airlines stated it will not resume flights to Tel Aviv before January 2027. Delta and United Airlines are not expected to resume service this summer, and British Airways has extended its cancellations until August.
However, some other foreign airlines have begun announcing their return to service in Israel. Lufthansa Group issued a statement announcing it would resume flights to Israel starting in June. Wizz Air, the budget airline from Hungary, said it would resume service as early as May 28.
Both announcements followed an update from the European Aviation Safety Agency, which eased the agency’s recommendations regarding flights to Israel after the ceasefire between the US and Iran held.
