Etihad Airways has commenced flights from Abu Dhabi to Medina this week, further expanding the airline’s footprint in Saudi Arabia and enhancing travel options for guests across religious, business and leisure segments.
Etihad will operate five weekly flights to
Medina using its Airbus A321 aircraft, increasing to six weekly flights later
this year.
The resumed direct service connects Abu
Dhabi with Medina, one of the most spiritually significant cities in the world
and a key destination for visitors performing religious travel throughout the
year.
The route will support growing demand from
pilgrims and travellers across the world seeking seamless connections to the
Kingdom’s holy city.
Medina becomes the latest addition to
Etihad’s operations in the Kingdom, reinforcing the UAE’s national carrier as a
major facilitator of travel to and from Saudi Arabia.
With the launch of flights to Medina, Etihad
will operate 93 flights per week to five cities across the Kingdom, flying four
times per day to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, and three services per week to Al
Qassim.
This expansion is part of Etihad’s
ambitious growth strategy, announcing 31 new destinations in a year.
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer
at Etihad Airways, said: “The launch of Medina reflects our commitment to
strengthening connectivity from Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia, one of our most
important markets. Medina carries profound cultural and spiritual significance
for millions of people, and we are honoured to provide convenient travel through
Abu Dhabi to this culturally and spiritually important city. With this new
route, we look forward to supporting religious travel and providing guests with
greater access, choice and convenience through our home in Abu Dhabi.” -TradeArabia News Service