Calgary Airports and Etihad Airways have announced a direct route to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, currently the only direct flight between Western Canada and the UAE.
Flying four days a week beginning Nov. 3, the route connects Canada’s energy capital and gateway to the Canadian Rocky Mountains, with another global energy capital, a city of rich cultural heritage, vibrant opportunity, and desert adventure.
Chris Dinsdale, President and CEO of Calgary Airports, said that: “Calgary Airports is proud to partner with Etihad Airways to link two great cities. This direct route is key to connecting our region’s leisure and business travellers to important locations in the Middle East, as well as a wealth of linked destinations in Africa, Asia and around the world.”
Direct flight service with Etihad Airways will further strengthen global connectivity, economic activity, and tourism for Western Canada. With nearly 20 million passengers traveling through YYC Calgary International Airport last year, YYC is one of the country’s busiest hubs and a premier gateway for cargo, delivering exceptional performance in air freight and passenger operations.
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer at Etihad Airways, said: “The launch of our Abu Dhabi–Calgary service is both a significant and historic step in Etihad’s global expansion. By creating the only nonstop link between the Middle East and Western Canada, we are opening new opportunities for trade, tourism and investment, while giving travellers direct access to two distinctive and globally important destinations.”
And Neves continued: “This is an exciting announcement for us, bringing together two remarkable places. For Canadian travellers, it opens direct access to Abu Dhabi’s rich culture and year-round experiences, while guests from the UAE and across our network gain seamless access to Calgary and the natural beauty of Western Canada. It is a route designed to stimulate two-way tourism and deepen ties between our regions.”
The route will be operated by Etihad’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, featuring the airline’s latest award-winning widebody Business and Economy cabins. Designed for long-haul comfort, the aircraft delivers Etihad’s signature service, inflight experience and onboard hospitality on one of the longest routes in its network.
This non-stop connection to Abu Dhabi opens up direct links for travellers to Etihad Airways’ network of more than 100 destinations in 40-plus countries. It strengthens Canada’s commitment to bilateral trade with the UAE, with its focus on energy, infrastructure, agriculture and AI.
Opening this route between Calgary and Abu Dhabi was made possible in part through the efforts of the Government of Canada, which expanded the bilateral Air Transport Agreement between Canada and the UAE, allowing for growth in direct air travel. Calgary Airports also recognizes the Government of Alberta, which was instrumental in creating this important connection between regions.
