ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways is set to introduce year-round flights between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Airport starting on Oct. 4, 2026. Initially, the airline will operate one flight per week, increasing to two flights weekly from Oct. 25. This new route will make Red Sea International the sixth Saudi destination in Etihad’s route network and provide an additional nonstop link from the UAE capital to Saudi Arabia.
The airline will operate the route using an Airbus A320, equipped with eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats. Each scheduled flight will feature 158 seats in total. The travel time between Abu Dhabi and Red Sea International is expected to be slightly over three hours. Etihad has already opened bookings for this route, enabling passengers across its broader network to connect via Zayed International Airport to the Saudi Red Sea coast.
Currently, Etihad serves Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim in Saudi Arabia. The addition of Red Sea International will expand this network to include a destination centered on coastal and resort tourism. Throughout the year, Etihad also transports passengers traveling to Saudi Arabia for business, family visits, or religious reasons. The airline noted that travelers from markets in the Gulf and Indian subcontinent can reach this new destination with a single connection through Abu Dhabi.
Red Sea International broadens regional air connectivity
Red Sea International Airport started domestic flights in September 2023 and received its first international service in April 2024. In October 2025, it added a direct connection to Doha. Developed by Red Sea Global, the airport serves as the gateway to The Red Sea tourism destination on Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast. The area features islands, coral reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and mountainous terrain, with resorts scattered along the coastlines and islands.
Red Sea Global, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is also behind the development of the AMAALA tourism project. The company states that Red Sea International supports access to resorts across The Red Sea development. daa International operates the airport, and travelers can continue from the terminal by electric vehicle, boat, or seaplane. The organization highlights that the airport employs renewable energy sources for airside operations, including lighting and navigation systems essential for arriving and departing aircraft.
Etihad expands its Saudi network with a new destination
Etihad Chief Executive Antonoaldo Neves mentioned that the new route provides travelers quick access to the Red Sea’s islands and reefs from Abu Dhabi. The airline intends to operate the service year-round rather than seasonally. The planned increase from one to two weekly flights will take effect three weeks after the initial service launches. The route will also link Red Sea International with Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub and its wider international network.
The inaugural flight to Red Sea International is scheduled for Oct. 4, 2026, with tickets already available through the airline. The twice-weekly flights will commence on Oct. 25, using the same Airbus A320 configuration. With this launch, Etihad will serve six destinations within Saudi Arabia and include the Red Sea coast in its regional route network. The new service will establish a direct air link between Abu Dhabi and one of Saudi Arabia’s newest international airports.