Etihad Airways expands Saudi network with new Medina route

Etihad Airways has launched flights from Abu Dhabi to Medina, strengthening its presence in Saudi Arabia and supporting growing demand for religious, business, and leisure travel. The inaugural flight operated this week and was fully booked.

With Medina added to its network, Etihad now operates 93 weekly flights to five Saudi cities:

• Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam – 4 flights per day each
• Al Qassim – 3 weekly flights
• Medina – 5 weekly flights on the Airbus A321, increasing to 6 later this year

CEO Antonoaldo Neves highlighted Medina’s spiritual importance and emphasised Etihad’s role in improving connectivity for pilgrims and international travellers. The new route is part of the airline’s rapid expansion, which includes 31 new destinations launched within a year.

Medina, a major centre of Islamic heritage and home to historic mosques and vibrant cultural attractions, receives millions of visitors annually. The service allows seamless connections through Abu Dhabi to Etihad’s broader network across Asia, Australia, and Europe.

Passengers transiting in Abu Dhabi can also benefit from the airline’s complimentary stopover programme, offering two free hotel nights for eligible travellers.

The Medina route follows several recent network additions, including Medan, Phnom Penh, Addis Ababa, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Hong Kong, and Tunis, underscoring Etihad’s continued global growth.