Carrier will be first to fly from Middle East to North Carolina gateway

Etihad Airways announced it would begin nonstop service from Abu Dhabi to Charlotte, North Carolina, beginning May 4, 2026, becoming the first airline from the region to fly directly to that city. Charlotte becomes Etihad’s sixth destination in the US, joining New York, Chicago, Washington, Boston and Atlanta, which launches July 2. The route will operate four times weekly on Etihad’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Antonoaldo Neves, CEO, said Charlotte “represents a strategic addition to our US network, unlocking direct access to one of the country’s most dynamic and fast-growing regions.” Charlotte Douglas International Airport, according to the announcement, is one of the busiest airports in the world, ranking sixth globally for aircraft movements in 2024.

With early morning departures from Abu Dhabi and midday returns, said the announcement, the schedule is designed for smooth onward connections via Etihad’s global network. Travelers from Charlotte will experience seamless one-stop connections to destinations across the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent and Asia.

Passengers traveling to the US benefit from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, enabling them to arrive in Charlotte as domestic passengers.