Etihad Airways announced a significant expansion of its Africa network, adding new routes to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ghana, Nigeria and Zimbabwe from Abu Dhabi, as part of its continued global growth strategy. The new services reflect investment in high-growth markets, supporting increasing connectivity across trade, cargo and mobility.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has begun scheduled operations to North Carolina, with its inaugural flight arriving at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) earlier this month, operated by the airline’s modern Airbus A350-1000.  The new service connects the Charlotte region and communities throughout North Carolina and the broader Southeast to Etihad’s global network, supporting both passenger and freight connectivity and providing access to key destinations across India and Asia.

Etihad Airways has released its traffic statistics for January 2026, continuing the strong momentum that defined a record-breaking 2025 and reinforcing its position as one of the fastest-growing airlines in the world. The airline welcomed 2.2 million passengers in January, a 29 per cent increase compared with January 2025, when 1.7 million guests flew with Etihad. Passenger load factor reached 89.9 per cent for the month, up from 89.1 per cent a year earlier, reflecting sustained demand across the network and continued efficiency in capacity management.

Etihad Airways has enjoyed a golden year by collecting more than 25 prestigious international awards throughout 2025, with recognition spanning every aspect of the guest experience from cabin design to onboard catering, safety and operational excellence. The airline crowned the year by becoming only the fourth airline globally, and the first in the region, to attain the Seven-Star Plus Safety Rating from Airline Ratings, the highest accolade in the internationally respected safety ranking system. Earlier this month, Etihad secured three major global titles at the World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony in Bahrain. The airline won World’s Leading Airline Customer Experience, World’s Leading Airline Economy Class, and World’s Leading Airline Lounge Business Class for the Premium Lounge at Zayed International Airport.

Etihad won three major World Travel Awards: World’s Leading Airline for Customer Experience, World’s Leading Economy Class, and World’s Leading Airline Business Class Lounge for its Premium Lounge at Zayed International Airport. Overall, the airline was nominated in 13 categories, highlighting its key role in promoting Abu Dhabi tourism globally.

Etihad Airways will deploy Viasat’s next-generation connectivity solution, Viasat Amara, across its entire fleet as part of its ongoing commitment to deliver a world-class guest experience. The expansion, announced today by the Abu Dhabi-based airline and Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, builds on a successful multi-year collaboration. Onboard Etihad aircraft, Viasat will power high-speed connectivity that enables guests to access streaming subscriptions on personal devices, to view Live TV on the aircraft seatback IFE screens—providing a variety of news and sports channels for guests’ enjoyment—and to utilize applications for social media scrolling, browsing, shopping, and more.