ABU DHABI- Etihad Airways (EY) has officially launched nonstop flights between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Atlanta (ATL), marking its fifth U.S. gateway and expanding its North American footprint.
The new service connects the capital of the United Arab Emirates to the commercial hub of the southeastern U.S., operated by Etihad’s state-of-the-art Airbus A350-1000 featuring next-generation onboard amenities.
Photo: EtihadEtihad Abu Dhabi to Atlanta Flights
The inaugural flight from Zayed International Airport (AUH) to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) landed on 2 July 2025. With this, Etihad Airways now operates to five U.S. cities—joining New York (JFK), Chicago (ORD), Washington D.C. (IAD), and Boston (BOS).
The route caters to increasing demand from both business and leisure travelers seeking direct connectivity between the UAE and the U.S. Southeast.
Welcome to Atlanta, @etihad!
Today Etihad begins 4x weekly service between ATL and Abu Dhabi using the A350-1000. : @ATLairport pic.twitter.com/2mqvKqu2al
— Ben Bearup (@TheAviationBeat) July 2, 2025
The Abu Dhabi–Atlanta route initially operates four times a week but will transition to daily flights starting November 2025 due to strong forward bookings and record-high load factors.
Atlanta offers strategic importance to Etihad’s U.S. network expansion, unlocking a large catchment area across the southern U.S. and complementing existing codeshare arrangements with U.S. partners.
Photo: By Anna Zvereva – https://www.flickr.com/photos/130961247@N06/52436521306/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=125818305Premium A350 Experience and Seamless U.S. Entry
The Abu Dhabi–Atlanta service is operated by Etihad’s fuel-efficient Airbus A350-1000. Business Class passengers benefit from 44 private Business Suites with sliding doors, fully flat 79-inch beds, wireless charging, Bluetooth headphone pairing, and 18.5-inch personal entertainment screens. Each suite emphasizes comfort, privacy, and productivity.
Economy passengers enjoy 327 ergonomic Smart Seats, 13-inch touchscreens, and free messaging via Wi-Fi. Full in-flight connectivity is also available for purchase.
Additionally, travelers departing from AUH benefit from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance—unique to the region—allowing passengers to complete immigration and customs formalities before boarding. This significantly reduces arrival wait times and enables entry into the U.S. as domestic travelers.
Atlanta Airport; Photo: HOK WebsiteDemand-Driven Expansion to Daily Flights
Etihad has accelerated its Atlanta plans in response to strong market interest. The airline confirmed it will switch to daily service from November 2025. Early bookings have exceeded expectations, with high demand across both leisure and corporate segments.
Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves emphasized Atlanta’s cultural and economic relevance, stating, “This new route expands connectivity to the Southeast U.S. while reinforcing Abu Dhabi as a top-tier global destination.” He added that the initial response validates the route’s strategic significance and growth potential.
The service provides seamless onward connections to destinations across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Asia via Abu Dhabi, further boosting Etihad’s hub strategy.
Flight Schedule: Abu Dhabi–Atlanta
| EY13 | AUH → ATL | 09:20 | 16:20 | Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun (Daily from Nov) | A350-1000 |
| EY14 | ATL → AUH | 22:00 | 19:30+1 | Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun (Daily from Nov) | A350-1000 |
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