Summary
- Etihad Airways begins Düsseldorf, Copenhagen, and Osaka between September 28th and October 1st
- Düsseldorf was previously served between 2011 and 2020, so is a resumption, but the other two are brand-new.
- Copenhagen and Osaka join other new routes this year, including Lisbon and St Petersburg.
What is better than a long-haul route launch? Three that almost start one after another. Etihad Airways inaugurated Abu Dhabi to Düsseldorf on September 28th (the day I’m writing this article), to be followed by Copenhagen on the 29th and Osaka Kansai on October 1st. Let’s hope there are plenty of celebratory photos to make it into my routes’ newsletter, which celebrated its 100th edition this week.
Etihad begins three routes
Notice that I did not say ‘new’ in the introduction, as Düsseldorf was previously served between 2011 and 2020. While Etihad operated, so did its then equity partner airberlin (2012-2017). They typically had a double daily service.
When airberlin ended it, Etihad itself doubled flights. These remained until April 2019, when it returned to daily. Four and a half years later, there are now just three weekly flights, part of the carrier’s general reduction to achieve stronger performance. Entirely unrelated, Cirium shows that Condor had Abu Dhabi charters last winter, building what TUI had in previous winters.
|
Abu Dhabi to… |
Start date |
Flights |
Aircraft |
Comments |
Find flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Düsseldorf |
September 28th |
Three weekly |
787-9 |
Last served in 2020 |
|
|
Copenhagen |
September 29th |
Four weekly |
787-9 |
Brand-new |
|
|
Osaka |
October 1st |
Five weekly |
787-9 |
Brand-new |
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying.
Also served by Emirates, Qatar Airways
Given the nature of the cities, it is not surprising that all three also see Emirates and Qatar Airways. However, the latter does not return to Osaka until March 2024, when it will have a daily service. Qatar Airways began Düsseldorf in November 2022.
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The trio’s operations this November are as follows. They have 61 weekly departures, equivalent to nearly nine daily. While not necessarily a fair comparison, I have included Turkish Airlines flights from its Istanbul Airport hub, Europe’s busiest airport.
|
Airport |
Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi |
Emirates from Dubai |
Qatar Airways from Doha |
The trio’s November flights |
Turkish Airlines from Istanbul Airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Düsseldorf |
Three weekly (787-9) |
Double daily (A380, 777-300ER) |
11 weekly (787-9) |
28 weekly |
21 weekly (A321, A330-200, A330-300) |
|
Copenhagen |
Four weekly (787-9) |
Daily (777-300ER) |
10 weekly (787-8, 787-9) |
21 weekly |
28 weekly (A321, 737 MAX 9, 737-900ER) |
|
Osaka |
Five weekly (787-9) |
Daily (777-300ER) |
None; returns in March (A350-900) |
12 weekly |
None; returns in December (787-9) |
Other brand-new routes in 2023
Etihad inaugurated Abu Dhabi-Beijing Daxing on March 28th (five weekly in November, daily in December; 787-9) and Lisbon on June 18th (three weekly, four in December; 787-9). While the carrier has not served either before, Daxing simply switched from Beijing Capital Airport.
Photo: KeleX Pictures I Shutterstock.
On October 29th, Etihad will take off to St. Petersburg (three weekly; 787-9). It will be the carrier’s second destination in Russia after Moscow Sheremetyevo (daily; 787-9, occasionally the 787-10). However, joint venture partner Air Arabia Abu Dhabi serves Kazan, Moscow Domodedovo, and Yekaterinburg, all with the A320, its only type.
Where else would you like Etihad to fly? Let us know in the comments.
Sources of information: Cirium, Etihad’s website, FlightRadar24.com.