Etihad Airways will operate twice-daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Sydney from December 15, 2026, adding four weekly services to its current schedule of 10.
The expansion will give passengers two departures every day during the Australian summer holiday season. All 14 weekly flights will use Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, providing more than 5,000 seats a week in each direction, according to the airline.
The additional service will increase travel options between Australia and destinations across the UAE carrier’s network in the Gulf, wider Middle East, Indian subcontinent, Africa and Europe.
Australian passengers travelling through Abu Dhabi can also use the airline’s stopover programme, which offers complimentary hotel accommodation for one or two nights. The programme now includes Al Ain.
Passengers flying to Sydney can connect onwards across Australia and New Zealand through Etihad’s interline partners Qantas, Jetstar and Air New Zealand.
Arik De, Etihad Airways’ Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, said the twice-daily schedule would give passengers greater flexibility and strengthen connections through Abu Dhabi.
The airline has served Sydney since 2007. Its Australian network also includes a daily Abu Dhabi–Melbourne service operated by Boeing 787 aircraft.
