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Later this spring, Etihad will become the first airline to offer scheduled service between central North Carolina and the Middle East.
The 7,395-mile route between Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is interesting for several reasons. For starters, it strengthens connectivity between two fast-growing, dynamic regions. But it could also carry longer-term implications.
Etihad already partners with a major airline that calls Charlotte a fortress hub (American Airlines), so Etihad's new service creates plenty of intrigue. With that in mind, I asked Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Arik De, several questions about the route and what it could mean for the future.
Here’s what he had to say about the new Abu Dhabi–Charlotte service, how the destination fits into Etihad’s U.S. growth plans, and why this development is worth keeping an eye on.
Page Contents
- Etihad to Launch a New Route Between Charlotte and Abu Dhabi
- Why Is Etihad Adding Nonstop Service to Charlotte, NC?
- Will Etihad Expand Its Partnership With American Airlines or Join an Alliance?
- The Traveler Experience at CLT: Lounges and Customs Preclearance
- Will Etihad Expand Its Guest Program Presence in the U.S.?
- Bottom Line
Etihad to Launch a New Route Between Charlotte and Abu Dhabi
On May 16, 2025, Etihad Airways announced plans to launch nonstop service between its hub in Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).
The inaugural U.S.-bound flight was initially scheduled for May 4, 2026. However, prospective travelers won’t have to wait that long, as the first flight between the two gateways is now set to depart on March 20, 2026.
The flight from Abu Dhabi to Charlotte (EY15) is blocked at just over 15 hours, while the return flight (EY16) clocks in at just over 13 hours.
At launch, Etihad will deploy a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on this route. The airline operates multiple 787-9 configurations with varying seat counts, but this route will be flown by aircraft offering two cabins: business and economy. While Etihad does have 787-9s equipped with first class, those aircraft won’t operate the AUH–CLT route, at least initially.
When asked why Etihad chose the 787-9 over something like the Airbus A350-1000 (the airline’s newest long-haul aircraft), De said the 787-9 provides an “optimal mix of range, efficiency, and right-sized capacity for this stage of the market.”
But based on the potential Etihad sees in Charlotte, we wouldn't be surprised to see the aircraft type upgauged at some point.
Why Is Etihad Adding Nonstop Service to Charlotte, NC?
If you’re like me (a near-lifelong North Carolina resident who was surprised to see a nonstop route announced between Abu Dhabi and Charlotte) you might also be wondering why this route is coming to fruition.
For Etihad, the decision to connect Abu Dhabi with what it calls one of “America’s most dynamic financial and cultural hubs” was fairly simple.
And it’s not just about adding another line to the map, even though Etihad has ambitious plans to double its fleet and expand to more than 125 destinations.
De summed it up by saying that “the Carolinas’ strong finance, advanced manufacturing, motorsport, technology, and healthcare sectors align well with Abu Dhabi’s diversified economy. This route opens new channels for corporate travel, trade, investment, and high-end leisure in both directions.”
What’s more, traffic between Charlotte and international gateways continues to grow, a trend De noted as being “13% year-over-year” in 2024. This comes on top of CLT being ranked sixth globally for aircraft movements.
All of this points to Charlotte as a destination Etihad views as strategic and well positioned for sustainable growth. The airline could’ve added frequencies to other U.S. destinations it already serves, such as Atlanta or Chicago, but it’s instead betting on Charlotte.
And don’t forget that Etihad has an interline partnership with American Airlines, which operates more than 800 daily departures from CLT.
Adding service allows Etihad to capitalize on that domestic-to-international leisure and business feed — and it makes us wonder if there’s more to this partnership coming down the pike.
Will Etihad Expand Its Partnership With American Airlines or Join an Alliance?
Etihad doesn’t belong to an airline alliance, but it is continuing to grow its presence at airports dominated by Oneworld members like American Airlines, including Chicago, New York, and now Charlotte.
That makes it reasonable to wonder whether an expansion of its partnership with American or even a formal alliance membership could be in the works, despite the fact that Oneworld already includes a couple of Middle Eastern airlines that compete with Etihad.
According to De, though, alliance membership isn’t something the airline feels the need to solve right now. In his words, “Etihad’s strategy remains partnership led and alliance agnostic. We focus on bilateral agreements that deliver flexibility and guest value.”
Additionally, Etihad appears content with how its partnership with American Airlines works today. When asked whether an expansion on that front could be coming, De said that “we value our partnership with American Airlines and see Charlotte amplifying mutual connectivity.”
So, while there may not be much more to read into this partnership at the moment, that could change over time. That said, Etihad may still lean on American Airlines to help round out its ground experience in Charlotte once service to the Queen City begins.
The Traveler Experience at CLT: Lounges and Customs Preclearance
In our conversation with Arik De, he mentioned two aspects of the travel experience at CLT: airport lounges and U.S. Customs preclearance.
Lounges
For many travelers, one of the hallmarks of flying business class is lounge access before (and sometimes after) an international flight. And if you’re familiar with Charlotte Douglas International Airport, you’ll know it doesn’t offer much when it comes to lounges.
Charlotte does have an American Express Centurion® Lounge, The Club CLT (which is part of Priority Pass), and a handful of airline-branded lounges. For Etihad, the most natural fit for lounge access in Charlotte would be the latter.
While the airline is still “evaluating ground experience options at CLT, including lounge access solutions appropriate for each cabin,” it’s likely that eligible travelers, including business class passengers and Etihad Guest elite members, will have access to an American Airlines Admirals Club before departure.
American Airlines also has plans to elevate its lounge offerings at CLT, including opening a new Flagship Lounge at some point. Short of building a proprietary lounge, which would be both expensive and time consuming, it’s reasonable to expect Etihad to find a partner on the lounge front as it evaluates the route's performance before (potentially) thinking bigger.
De said official plans will be communicated once they’re finalized, which should be in the near future as the route gears up to launch.
U.S. Customs Preclearance
Something Arik De mentioned a couple of times in our correspondence is that Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi (AUH) offers U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) preclearance.
Both airlines and passengers value smoother journeys, and this is something travelers will be able to take advantage of when returning to the U.S.
Will Etihad Expand Its Guest Program Presence in the U.S.?
One of the final questions we asked Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer pertained to AwardWallet’s bread and butter: credit card rewards.
You might recall that other Middle Eastern airlines already offer credit cards to U.S. applicants. These include Qatar Airways' cards issued by Cardless and Emirates' cards issued by Barclays.
Credit cards are big business in the U.S., so we asked Arik De whether Etihad might eventually join the mix with a product of its own.
For now, though, that doesn’t appear to be in the works.
De told us that “Etihad Guest continually evaluates partnerships that add value for U.S. travelers. We already provide attractive earn-and-burn options through major transferable points ecosystems and partner banks. While we have no announcements today, we’re actively exploring opportunities that would deepen engagement with U.S. members.”
And he’s right about the earn-and-burn opportunities. While redeeming Etihad Guest miles can be frustrating at times, there are still plenty of ways to earn them.
There are also several attractive redemption options. These include short-haul American Airlines awards from 6,000 Etihad Guest miles and better access to Etihad first class awards.
All that said, Etihad appears fairly comfortable with how things stand today. And if you recall, another Middle Eastern airline has been making it harder to earn and redeem miles. But thankfully, De’s comments don’t give the impression that Etihad plans to follow suit.
Bottom Line
Etihad is about to inaugurate service between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Charlotte (CLT) on March 20, 2026. And it’s a fairly big deal, given that the new nonstop route connects two dynamic cultural hubs. And such a launch reflects the airline’s view of Charlotte as a market capable of supporting sustainable long-term growth.
What’s more, expanded service to the U.S., along with launching flights to the fortress hub of one of its partner airlines, could carry broader implications for the future. While expanded partnerships or alliance membership don’t appear to be in the cards right now, it’s hard not to wonder how things could evolve over time.
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