ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways plans to launch year-round flights connecting Abu Dhabi with Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Airport on Oct. 4, 2026. Initially, the airline will operate one flight per week, increasing to two weekly departures starting Oct. 25. This new route will make Red Sea International the sixth Saudi destination in Etihad’s network, enhancing direct connectivity between the UAE capital and Saudi Arabia.
The route will be operated using an Airbus A320, featuring eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats, totaling 158 seats per flight. The journey between Abu Dhabi and Red Sea International will take just over three hours. Tickets are already available, enabling passengers from Etihad’s broader network to connect via Zayed International Airport to reach the Saudi Red Sea coast.
Currently, Etihad serves Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim in Saudi Arabia. The addition of Red Sea International expands this network into a destination known for coastal and resort tourism. Throughout the year, passengers also travel for business, family visits, and religious reasons. The airline noted that travelers from Gulf and Indian subcontinent markets can reach the new Saudi destination via a single connection through Abu Dhabi.
Red Sea International broadens regional air connectivity
Since commencing domestic flights in September 2023, Red Sea International Airport welcomed its first international service in April 2024, followed by a direct Doha link in October 2025. Developed by Red Sea Global, the airport serves as the main access point to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea tourism region, which features islands, coral reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and mountains with resorts across coastal and island areas.
Red Sea Global, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is also behind the AMAALA tourism project. The airport facilitates access to various resorts within the Red Sea development. Managed by daa International, the airport provides options for travelers to move from the terminal by electric vehicle, boat, or seaplane. It operates using renewable energy for essential functions like lighting and navigation, supporting arriving and departing aircraft.
Etihad’s Saudi network grows with the Red Sea destination
Etihad Chief Executive Antonoaldo Neves highlighted that the new route offers quick access to the Red Sea’s islands and reefs from Abu Dhabi. Unlike seasonal services, this route will operate throughout the year. The airline’s plan to increase weekly flights from one to two will take effect three weeks after the initial launch. This route will connect Red Sea International directly to Etihad’s hub in Abu Dhabi and its global network.
Scheduled to commence on Oct. 4, 2026, the initial flight is already bookable. Starting Oct. 25, the twice-weekly service will operate using the same Airbus A320 configuration. With this launch, Etihad will serve six Saudi destinations and include the Red Sea coast in its regional offerings. It will also establish a direct air link between Abu Dhabi and one of Saudi Arabia’s newest international airports.