Etihad Airways to launch nonstop Abu Dhabi-Calgary service

Etihad Airways is preparing to launch a new nonstop route between Abu Dhabi International Airport and Calgary International Airport. The inaugural flight is set for roughly two months from now, according to the airline.

The route will be operated using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, the UAE flag carrier said. The flight is expected to run for around 15 hours, connecting the two cities directly for the first time.

Calgary will become the airline's newest North American gateway. Officials describe the link as the city's first nonstop connection to the Middle East, giving travelers in Alberta a new option for onward journeys across the Gulf region and beyond.

Etihad has been expanding its long-haul widebody network in recent years, adding destinations across North America, Asia and Europe. The Calgary route adds to a growing list of Canadian points served by Gulf carriers, as airlines in the region compete for transit traffic between North America and destinations in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

No further schedule details were included in the available information, such as flight frequency or fare classes on offer. It also remains unclear whether the new service will operate year-round or on a seasonal basis.

The launch gives passengers in Western Canada another long-haul option. They have historically relied on connections through hubs in Europe or the United States for travel to the Middle East, South Asia and beyond. Airport officials in Calgary have in recent years pushed to grow international service, part of a broader effort to position the airport as a secondary gateway for long-haul travel in Canada.