Etihad Airways to Launch New Service Between Abu Dhabi and Charlotte, North Carolina
- Joe Breitfeller
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Starting May 4, 2026, Etihad Airways will launch new nonstop service between Abu Dhabi and Charlotte, North Carolina, becoming the first airline to the region to connect to one of America’s fastest growing cities.

On Friday (May 16, 2025), Etihad Airways announced the launch of new service between Abu Dhabi and Charlotte, North Carolina. Starting May 4, 2026, the route will operate four times weekly with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner featuring Business Class and Economy Class cabins. With this milestone, Etihad will become the first airline in the region to offer a direct connection to Charlotte, one of America’s fastest growing cities. Charlotte will become the carrier’s sixth U.S. destination, joining existing service to New York, Chicago, Washington, Boston, and Atlanta, which launches on July 2, 2025.
In Friday’s announcement, Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, Antonoaldo Neves, said,
“Charlotte represents a strategic addition to our U.S. network, unlocking direct access to one of the country’s most dynamic and fast-growing regions. We’re excited to be the first airline from our region to serve this market, and we look forward to connecting more travellers to Abu Dhabi and beyond.”

With early morning departures from Abu Dhabi and mid-day returns, the schedule between Abu Dhabi and Charlotte has been optimized to offer seamless onward connections via Etihad’s global network. Inbound travelers to Abu Dhabi will enjoy smooth one-stop connections to destinations across the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent and Asia. Guests traveling to the U.S. will also benefit from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Pre-clearance at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, enabling them to arrive in Charlotte as domestic passengers.
Source: Etihad Airways