Etihad’s Calgary–Abu Dhabi service set to begin November 3

Etihad Airways is scheduled to begin year-round nonstop service between Calgary and Abu Dhabi on November 3, adding a direct Western Canadian link to the United Arab Emirates.

The route is planned for four flights a week—Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday—using Boeing 787-9 aircraft, according to schedules published by Etihad Airways and Calgary Airports. The eastbound flight is scheduled to leave Calgary at 6:05 p.m. local time, while the westbound flight is scheduled to depart Abu Dhabi at 8:45 a.m. local time.

Trade and travel link

In an October 25 statement, Alberta Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Minister Joseph Schow said the service would make it easier for businesses, investors and travellers to connect while supporting the province’s trade and tourism efforts in the Gulf region.

Etihad described the route as the only nonstop connection between the Middle East and Western Canada when it announced the service on January 29. Calgary Airports also lists November 3 as the inaugural date and says the service will operate throughout the year.

The new route complements Etihad’s existing Canadian service to Toronto and gives passengers access to the airline’s onward network through Abu Dhabi. Travellers should check the airline’s current timetable before booking because schedules can change.

Illustrative image: an Etihad Boeing 787-9 at Melbourne Airport. Photo by Harry Stanton on Unsplash. The photograph does not depict the Calgary route launch.