Etihad Airways to Establish Operational Hub at Ben-Gurion Airport with 42 Weekly Flights to Israel

Route Frequency Signals Deepening Bilateral Ties Six Years After Abraham Accords

Abu Dhabi’s flag carrier Etihad Airways will launch an operational hub at Ben-Gurion International Airport beginning in the fourth quarter of 2025, operating 42 weekly flights across multiple Israeli destinations. The centerpiece of the expansion is six daily round-trip services between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, instantly making the corridor the busiest in Etihad’s global network and the most frequent Israel-UAE air link to date.

Israeli Transport Ministry officials confirmed the carrier has secured 28 weekly slots at Terminal 3 for Abu Dhabi flights plus additional frequencies to Dubai and planned services to Sharjah. The move follows months of quiet negotiations between Etihad executives, the Israel Airports Authority, and the Civil Aviation Authority, sources familiar with the talks said.

From Normalization to Network Integration

When the Abraham Accords were signed in 2020, commercial aviation between Israel and the UAE began with a handful of weekly charter flights. By late 2024, more than 1.2 million passengers had traveled the Tel Aviv–Abu Dhabi corridor on Etihad, Emirates, Arkia, and Israir combined, according to data released by the Israel Airports Authority. Etihad alone carried 312,000 passengers on the route in 2024, a 47 percent year-on-year increase.

The new schedule will raise Etihad’s weekly Israel capacity from the current 18 flights to 42, representing a 133 percent increase. Six daily Tel Aviv–Abu Dhabi rotations will operate with Airbus A321LR and Boeing 787-9 aircraft configured in a three-class layout, offering 214 and 298 seats respectively.

Economic Ripple Effects for Israeli Tourism and Trade

Israeli tourism officials project the added capacity will generate an additional 380,000 visitors from the Gulf annually by 2027. The Israel Ministry of Tourism estimates Gulf visitors spend an average of $2,850 per trip—nearly double the figure for European tourists—largely on luxury accommodation, medical tourism packages, and high-end retail. Hotel occupancy rates in Tel Aviv and Eilat already rose 19 percent in the first half of 2025 compared with 2023 levels, partly attributed to UAE demand.

Trade figures released by the Central Bureau of Statistics show bilateral merchandise trade between Israel and the UAE reached $3.1 billion in 2024, up from $1.1 billion in 2021. Aviation executives argue that reliable daily connectivity is now the binding constraint on further growth in diamonds, pharmaceuticals, and cybersecurity services.

Competitive Landscape and Slot Realities at Ben-Gurion

Etihad’s move comes as Emirates operates five daily Tel Aviv–Dubai flights and Wizz Air Malta maintains four weekly Abu Dhabi rotations. Industry analysts note that Etihad’s decision to base a small fleet of narrow-body aircraft overnight at Ben-Gurion represents a deeper commitment than simple frequency increases. “This is no longer point-to-point flying; it is genuine hub development,” said aviation consultant Dr. Liora Ben-Ami of Tel Aviv University’s Transportation Research Institute.

Slot allocation at Ben-Gurion remains tightly managed. The Israel Airports Authority confirmed that Etihad received priority for early-morning and late-evening windows previously used by seasonal European carriers that have reduced operations. “We are optimizing utilization without displacing existing operators,” an authority spokesperson stated.

Geopolitical Context and Regional Connectivity

The expansion occurs against a backdrop of continued diplomatic engagement between Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi even as broader regional tensions persist. Etihad’s chief commercial officer, Adel Al Redha, emphasized in a statement that the airline views Israel as “a strategic gateway for traffic flows between Asia, Africa, and Europe.” Israeli officials have similarly framed the route as a practical demonstration of the Abraham Accords’ durability.

Passengers will benefit from Etihad’s codeshare agreements with Air India, SriLankan Airlines, and several European carriers, potentially offering one-stop connections from Tel Aviv to 42 destinations beyond the UAE. Conversely, Israeli carriers gain reciprocal access to Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub for onward travel to South Asia and Australia.

Expert Perspectives on Sustainability and Market Risks

While the announcement has been welcomed across the Israeli business community, some analysts caution against over-optimism. “Aviation demand between Israel and the Gulf remains sensitive to political developments,” noted Dr. Michael Herzog, senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, in an interview. Herzog pointed to past fluctuations during periods of heightened Gaza-related tensions.

Environmental considerations also factor into the expansion. Etihad has committed to using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blends on 15 percent of its Israel flights by 2027, aligning with Israel’s national target of 10 percent SAF uptake by the same year. Environmental groups have welcomed the pledge but called for greater transparency on actual emission reductions.

Operational Preparations Underway

Ground-handling contracts have been awarded to Menzies Aviation Israel, while El Al Technical Services will provide line maintenance for Etihad’s overnighting aircraft. The airline is also establishing a small crew base in Tel Aviv to support the six daily frequencies without excessive deadheading.

Israeli passengers will see new fare classes, including a competitively priced “Guest” economy product and expanded business-class inventory aimed at the corporate market. Etihad’s loyalty program, Etihad Guest, will offer Israeli members reciprocal benefits with El Al’s Matmid frequent-flyer scheme under an existing partnership.

The carrier plans a phased rollout: 35 weekly flights commencing October 2025, scaling to the full 42 by March 2026 once additional aircraft are delivered. Load-factor targets exceed 82 percent on the core Abu Dhabi route, according to internal projections shared with Israeli regulators.

Industry observers will monitor whether other Gulf carriers follow Etihad’s hub strategy. Qatar Airways has so far limited itself to four weekly Doha–Tel Aviv flights, while Saudia has yet to launch direct service despite normalized diplomatic channels.

For now, the Etihad announcement marks the clearest signal yet that commercial aviation between Israel and the UAE has moved from tentative normalization to routine, high-frequency integration.

This is Hannah Berg for Global1 News, reporting from Tel Aviv. 🇮🇱