Etihad Airways has operated the first commercial flight from Abu Dhabi International Airport’s Terminal A. Etihad flight EY224, from Abu Dhabi to New Delhi, departed from Terminal A on 31 October 2023.
Passengers were invited to be the inaugural guests at the new flagship Etihad Lounges, which span three floors at Terminal A. The ceremonial flight was inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Etihad and Abu Dhabi Airports board members and aviation leaders, as well as Antonoaldo Neves, CEO at Etihad, and Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Interim CEO at Abu Dhabi Airports.
Antonoaldo Neves, CEO at Etihad, said: “This is a pivotal and exciting moment in Etihad’s history. As we begin to celebrate our 20th anniversary in November, we are ready for the next growth chapter in our new home.
“Our congratulations go to the Abu Dhabi leadership for their vision in creating what is one of the world’s most spectacular airports. The terminal is a stunning piece of architecture that echoes the local landscape and warmly welcomes our guests and elevates their travel experience. As we begin our transition to our new home, we look forward to welcoming even more passengers as we continue to grow and expand our fleet and network.”
Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Interim CEO at Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “This is an historic moment for Abu Dhabi International Airport, our partners at Etihad Airways, and the emirate as a whole. The first flight from Terminal A marks a major milestone in the journey of Abu Dhabi’s aviation sector. Terminal A brings a significant increase to capacity and delivers state-of-the-art facilities to both airlines and passengers. We look forward to welcoming more passengers throughout November as we continue to increase the number of flights departing and arriving at Terminal A.”
Terminal A is part of Etihad’s growth strategy, with the capability to handle up to 45 million passengers annually and connect Abu Dhabi to 117 global destinations. The terminal provides dedicated check-in desks for Etihad’s economy guests, as well as exclusive areas for guests travelling in business class and first class to receive fast-tracked, premium experiences. The lounges also provide direct boarding access.
Etihad will transition flights to Terminal A in a phased approach from 9 November 2023 and is advising all passengers to check terminal information within two days of travelling. Between 9-14 November, Etihad will operate from both Terminal A and Terminal 3 and from 14 November, Etihad will operate all of its flights from Terminal A.
