ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways is set to introduce year-round flights connecting Abu Dhabi with Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Airport starting on Oct. 4, 2026. Initially, the airline will operate one flight per week, increasing to two weekly services from Oct. 25. This new route will make Red Sea International the sixth Saudi destination in Etihad’s route network and will also provide another direct connection from the UAE capital to Saudi Arabia.
On this route, Etihad will deploy an Airbus A320 aircraft, configured with eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats. Each scheduled flight will carry a total of 158 passengers. The travel time from Abu Dhabi to Red Sea International is slightly over three hours. The airline has already opened reservations, enabling passengers across its extensive network to connect through Zayed International Airport to reach the Saudi Red Sea coast.
Etihad’s current Saudi destinations include Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim. Red Sea International broadens this network to include a coastal and resort-focused destination. The airline also transports travelers to Saudi Arabia for business, family visits, and religious pilgrimages year-round. Customers traveling from Gulf countries and the Indian subcontinent can reach the new destination with a single connection through Abu Dhabi.
Red Sea International broadens regional air connectivity
Red Sea International Airport began domestic services in September 2023 and welcomed its first international flight in April 2024. A direct route to Doha was added in October 2025. Developed by Red Sea Global, the airport serves as the gateway to The Red Sea tourism destination on Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast. This area features islands, coral reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and mountains, with resorts scattered across coastal and island locations.
Red Sea Global, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is also behind the development of the AMAALA tourism area. The company notes that Red Sea International supports access to resorts throughout The Red Sea project. The airport is operated by daa International, and travelers can continue their journey via electric vehicle, boat, or seaplane from the terminal. According to Red Sea Global, the airport’s operations on the airside are powered by renewable energy, including lighting and navigation systems essential for arriving and departing aircraft.
Etihad adds its sixth destination within Saudi Arabia
Etihad Chief Executive Antonoaldo Neves highlighted that the new route offers travelers quick access to the islands and reefs of the Red Sea within a short flight from Abu Dhabi. The airline has planned year-round operation of the service rather than a seasonal one. The increase from one to two weekly flights will commence three weeks after the initial service begins. This route will also link Red Sea International with Etihad’s hub in Abu Dhabi and its wider international network.
The inaugural flight to Red Sea International is scheduled for Oct. 4, 2026, with bookings already available on the airline’s website. The twice-weekly flights will operate using the same Airbus A320 configuration starting on Oct. 25. With this addition, Etihad will serve six destinations within Saudi Arabia, including the Red Sea coast, enhancing its regional connectivity. The new route provides a direct air link between Abu Dhabi and one of Saudi Arabia’s newest international airports.