Etihad Airways
has gained an additional daily slot at London Heathrow Airport
for the summer 2025 season through a leasing arrangement with American Airlines
, allowing the UAE airline to boost service to five daily flights on this important route.
Photo: Etihad Airways
The slot lease agreement
Etihad is allowed to run an extra daily flight, EY703/704, between Abu Dhabi International Airport
and London Heathrow because of a slot lease deal with American Airlines, according to the document by Airport Coordination Ltd, the organization responsible for coordinating slot restrictions at various airports.
This new service will run from March 30 to October 25, 2025, with the possibility of an extension. The slot pair previously belonged to American Airlines, which had used it for flights between Heathrow and Philadelphia International Airport
(PHL) as well as Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
(DFW).
Etihad plans to use the A321
According to the Slot Swap Request Form, Etihad plans to operate this fifth daily service using an Airbus A321
aircraft, marking a departure from its current widebody operations on the route. The planned A321 will feature a 196-passenger configuration, suggesting the airline intends to deploy its regional fleet variant on this prestigious route.
The bookings for these additional flights are not yet available for reservations. Currently, Etihad Airways operates 28 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Heathrow, according to Cirium. This includes:

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The other carrier, British Airways, currently offers daily flights on either Boeing 787-8
or B787-9 between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow, Flightradar 24 data shows.
A321LR delivery almost here
The increased demand for travel between the UAE and the UK is reflected in Etihad’s expanded operations. The addition of a fifth daily frequency will provide passengers with more options for connectivity between Abu Dhabi and London.
Etihad’s standing as a top airline on the Abu Dhabi-London route will also be further reinforced by the additional daily service made possible by the leased slot. Given that Etihad presently only uses widebody aircraft for its four daily Abu Dhabi-Heathrow flights, a combination of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A380 superjumbos, the selection of aircraft is especially notable.
Photo: Etihad
Additionally, Etihad is in the process of receiving the more advanced Airbus A321LR
variant, which features a more comfortable cabin with 160 seats, including 14 fully lie-flat Business Class seats, 144 Economy seats, and two First Class suites. These new A321LRs, designed for slightly longer routes with lower passenger loads, might be a better fit for this high-capacity route once they enter service. The first A321LR delivery is expected this year. The first two European routes for the new jet are Abu Dhabi to Copenhagen Airport
and Düsseldorf, starting in October, the carrier announced last year.
Heathrow’s slots
Slot leasing is a common practice at airports like Heathrow, which are “slot-controlled.” This means airlines must either own or lease the rights to a specific pair of takeoff and landing slots. The process of acquiring slots, especially at congested airports, can be incredibly costly, with prices sometimes reaching tens of millions of dollars. Leasing offers a way for airlines to maximize the use of scarce slots, enabling them to temporarily expand service without the long-term investment of acquiring new slots.
In December 2023, the UK government released a consultation paper outlining its intentions to reform the country’s airport slot regulations. The paper, published by the Department for Transport, proposed changes designed to promote a more competitive market for airport slots and establish clearer guidelines for allocating new slots. Among the proposed reforms, the government is considering revising the current slot utilization rules. However, in response to the consultation, London Heathrow Airport issued a statement urging the UK government to ensure consistency for passengers.