The UAE's Etihad Airways has announced the launch of flights to 5 new destinations in China and the addition of 28 weekly flights from Abu Dhabi, in an expansion that raises its total operations in the Chinese market to 35 weekly flights to 6 destinations, including its existing daily service to Beijing Daxing.
It explained that the new expansion includes direct flights from Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi to Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou and Shenzhen, in a step reflecting the growing strategic importance of the UAE–China corridor and strengthening connectivity in travel, trade, investment and air cargo, according to a post on the Etihad Airways website.
The schedule for the new destinations includes the following:
Flights to Shanghai Pudong start from 1 October 2026, with 7 flights a week.
Flights to Guangzhou launch on 4 March 2027, with 7 flights a week, and Hangzhou flights start on the same day with 5 flights a week.
Chengdu flights launch on 5 March 2027, with 4 flights a week.
Shenzhen flights start on 7 March 2027, with 5 flights a week.
Etihad explained that all flights on the new routes will be operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, equipped with 28 Business Class seats and 262 Economy seats, providing a consistent widebody travel experience across the expanded China network.
It added that the new expansion will support passenger and cargo traffic between the UAE and China and provide wider access to the most prominent commercial, industrial and technology hubs in the Chinese market, as well as strengthening cargo connectivity through a number of the most important manufacturing and export hubs, supporting global supply chains and high-value trade flows.
The airline also noted that all the new routes will be included in the joint cooperation agreement with China Eastern Airlines, strengthening UAE–China connectivity through coordinated services from key gateways, at a time when the Chinese airline currently operates flights linking Shanghai, Kunming and Xi'an with the UAE.
In this context, Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of Etihad Airways, explained that relations between the UAE and China continue to flourish, adding that this expansion, supported by the partnership with China Eastern Airlines, links growing tourist destinations and commercial hubs, supporting shared and sustainable economic prosperity.
For his part, Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, noted that China is an extremely important strategic market for the airline and a pivotal pillar in its network growth, stressing that adding 5 new destinations and increasing the number of flights strengthens connectivity across one of the world's most important economic corridors and opens new horizons for travel, trade and cargo.
This expansion gives Etihad a wider presence in China, covering a number of the most prominent economic and cultural hubs, including Shanghai as a global financial center and key international cargo hub, Guangzhou as a key gateway for manufacturing and trade in southern China, Chengdu as a fast-growing center for innovation and technology in the west of the country, Hangzhou as a center for the digital economy and e-commerce, and Shenzhen as a global technology powerhouse and a key export market.
To view the post on the Etihad Airways website, click here.
