Etihad to launch Abu Dhabi–Red Sea route in October 2026

Etihad Airways will start a new route from Abu Dhabi to Red Sea International Airport in Saudi Arabia on October 4, 2026. The service will begin once a week, year-round. From October 25 it goes to twice weekly.

Flights will use an Airbus A320 with eight business class seats and 150 in economy.

Red Sea International Airport opened in 2023 for domestic flights and has had international connections since 2024. Flydubai links it with Dubai, and Qatar Airways has flown from Doha three times weekly since October 2025. Saudia operates from there to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. The airport is a gateway to The Red Sea tourism project on Saudi Arabia's northwest coast.