Etihad Airways today proudly announced that it is launching two new European routes this October. The carrier will be flying from its Abu Dhabi hub to Copenhagen, Denmark, and Düsseldorf, Germany.

European prospects

The new services will start on October 1st. The operator highlights that it is looking to cater to both leisure and business demand with this initiative. The frequencies are broken down by the following:

  • Abu Dhabi - Copenhagen: 4 x weekly
  • Abu Dhabi - Düsseldorf: 3 x weekly

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The right vessel

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be the aircraft of choice on both routes. While the airline didn’t explicitly state which model will be deployed, it said there will be 28 seats in business and 262 in economy. As a result, we can assume that it will be the 787-9 rather than the 787-10 on these services. There are plenty of aircraft at the carrier's disposal, as Etihad has a total of 30 units of the smaller Dreamliner in its fleet.

The 787 Dreamliner has been gaining more traction with the carrier in recent weeks. For instance, just last month, it was announced that Etihad would use the type to complement the Airbus A350 to scale up capacity to New York JFK. All in all, the carrier has been showing its determination to expand in this recovery period.

An Etihad Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft
Photo: Etihad

Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves shared the following about his company’s momentum in a statement:

"We are thrilled to start flying to Denmark for the first time and to expand our network in Germany to our third city, providing guests with more holiday options and easier access between Abu Dhabi and Europe.

“Our new flights will take off for the winter season — the perfect time for guests to escape the cold and enjoy Abu Dhabi's beautiful beaches, world-class entertainment and rich heritage — and also ideal for travellers choosing to experience the unique allure of Europe in the winter. With our network expanding to 66 cities, there are even more must-see destinations to plan your next great adventure with Etihad Airways."

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Across the continents

It's been a busy period of route announcements for Etihad. The airline recently boosted frequencies to China due to the country's easing of pandemic restrictions. Following this, the firm shared that it would offer twice-daily flights to Bangkok from March.

With over 10 million passengers flown last year, Etihad is looking to smash this figure in 2023. Amid expansions across several regions, it won’t be a tough task to ramp up the numbers this year.

What are your thoughts about Etihad expanding its service to Copenhagen and Düsseldorf? What do you make of the airline's overall route network? Let us know what you think of the carrier and its plans in the comment section.

  • Etihad Boeing 787-9
    Etihad Airways
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    EY/ETD
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Abu Dhabi International Airport
    Year Founded:
    2003
    CEO:
    Tony Douglas
    Country:
    United Arab Emirates