• Charlotte upgraded from four-weekly to daily following successful launch in March 2026
  • Strengthens connectivity between the U.S., India and Asia-Pacific via Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, UAE - Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is accelerating its growth in the United States with two major enhancements to its North American network, increasing capacity and connectivity across key markets.

Chicago O’Hare will move to double-daily service, while Charlotte will increase to daily flights from 15 June, building on strong early performance following the launch of services on 20 March 2026.

Together, the enhancements significantly expand Etihad’s U.S. footprint, strengthening connectivity between North America and high-growth markets across India and Asia-Pacific, while improving access to the U.S. domestic network through partner airlines.

The expanded schedule will offer travellers greater flexibility and more seamless connections beyond Chicago and Charlotte to major cities across the United States, and onwards across Etihad’s global network. Both routes will be operated by Etihad’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, featuring 32 Business and 271 Economy seats.

Chicago: Twice Daily for Greater Connectivity and Reach

Chicago remains one of Etihad’s most established gateways in North America. Moving to double-daily service will deepen connectivity and unlock a broader range of one-stop journeys via Abu Dhabi to high-demand destinations across Etihad’s network.

These include 11 gateways across India – Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai – as well as key Asia-Pacific destinations such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Manila.

Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, said: “Chicago continues to be a cornerstone of our U.S. network. Moving to double-daily flights reflects the sustained performance of the route and enables us to offer guests greater flexibility while deepening connectivity through Abu Dhabi, strengthening links to key markets across India and Asia-Pacific.”

Charlotte: Rapid growth following successful launch

Following the successful launch of services in March, Etihad will increase its Charlotte service from four-weekly to daily from 15 June until 8 September, marking one of the fastest route expansions in the airline’s network.

The move reflects strong demand from both point-to-point and connecting traffic and reinforces Etihad’s long-term commitment to the market.

The daily service strengthens links between Charlotte and Etihad’s global network, enabling efficient one-stop connections via Abu Dhabi to key destinations across India and Asia-Pacific, while also supporting inbound travel to the United States.

De added: “We are grateful to the people of Charlotte for the strong support they have shown since launch. Scaling to daily service so rapidly after launching is a clear signal of how quickly the route is gaining traction and the role it can play in our U.S. network.

“The increase strengthens links between the Southeast U.S. and our global network, supporting both passenger and cargo flows while enabling efficient access to key markets across India and Asia-Pacific.”

The expansion forms part of Etihad’s phased approach to growing its network, with additional capacity deployed in line with demand across key markets. The enhanced schedule strengthens connectivity between Abu Dhabi and key destinations across the Middle East, India, South Asia and beyond, while also improving access to the U.S. domestic market through Etihad’s partner airlines.

Chicago Flight Schedule from 15 June 2026

Flight

From

Departure

To

Arrival

Days

Aircraft

EY9

Abu Dhabi

02:55

Chicago

08:35

Daily

B787-9

EY11

Abu Dhabi

10:00

Chicago

15:40

Daily

B787-9

EY10

Chicago

14:00

Abu Dhabi

12:30 (+1)

Daily

B787-9

EY12

Chicago

21:10

Abu Dhabi

19:40 (+1)

Daily

B787-9

Charlotte Flight Schedule from 15 June 2026 until 8 September

Flight

From

Departure

To

Arrival

Days

Aircraft

EY 15

Abu Dhabi

03:35

Charlotte

10:45

Daily

B787-9

EY 16

Charlotte

15:00

Abu Dhabi

12:25

Daily

B787-9

About Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, was formed in 2003 and quickly went on to become one of the world’s leading airlines. From its home in Abu Dhabi, Etihad flies to passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Together with Etihad’s codeshare partners, Etihad’s network offers access to hundreds of international destinations. In recent years, Etihad has received numerous awards for its superior service and products, cargo offering, loyalty programme and more. To learn more, visit etihad.com.

For further details:

Duty Media Officer
Etihad Airways
Email: dutymediaofficer@etihad.a