Etihad Airways to launch hub at Ben-Gurion as UAE flag airline schedules 42 weekly flights

Etihad Airways Announces Increased Service to Ben-Gurion Airport

Etihad Airways, the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi, announced plans to expand operations on its Tel Aviv route. Starting June 15, the airline will operate 42 weekly flights between Ben-Gurion Airport and Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport. This schedule equates to six daily flights and positions the TLV-AUH route as the most frequently traveled in Etihad's network.

Israeli Traveler Demand Drives Route Growth

Data from Etihad shows that more than 100,000 passengers traveled between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi in the first three months of the current period. This figure reflects a 30 percent increase compared with the same timeframe last year. Approximately 70 percent of those passengers used Abu Dhabi as a stopover point for onward flights to destinations further east in Asia, highlighting sustained interest among Israeli travelers in connections to that region.

Pricing Adjustments for High-Demand Routes

Etihad has set introductory fares for popular extensions of the Abu Dhabi service. A round-trip ticket to Bangkok begins at $974 without a checked bag and at $1,014 with a checked bag. These rates fall below the reported market average of $1,200 for similar itineraries, reflecting the carrier's strategy to capture growing traffic from Israel toward Asia.

Varied Approaches Among International Carriers

While Etihad advances its schedule, several other foreign airlines continue to limit or postpone service to Israel. American Airlines has indicated it will not resume flights to Tel Aviv before January 2027. Delta and United are not anticipated to restore summer service. British Airways has extended its flight cancellations through August. In contrast, Lufthansa Group plans to resume flights to Israel in June, and Wizz Air restarted operations on May 28.

Regulatory Context Following Regional Developments

The decisions by Lufthansa Group and Wizz Air followed an update from the European Aviation Safety Agency. The agency eased its recommendations on flights to Israel after the ceasefire between the US and Iran held. This adjustment provides one example of how aviation operators are monitoring conditions when planning routes involving Israeli airports.

By Hannah Berg, Staff Writer