ABU DHABI / RankWire.AI / – Etihad Airways is set to start year-round flights connecting Abu Dhabi with Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Airport on Oct. 4, 2026. The airline will initially run one flight per week. From Oct. 25, this will increase to two weekly services. The new route will make Red Sea International the sixth Saudi destination in Etihad’s route network, offering another direct connection from the UAE capital to Saudi Arabia.
The airline will operate the route using an Airbus A320, which features eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats. Each flight will have a total of 158 seats. The flight duration from Abu Dhabi to Red Sea International is expected to be just over three hours. Bookings are already open, enabling passengers from Etihad’s network to connect via Zayed International Airport to reach the Saudi Red Sea coast.
Currently, Etihad serves Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim in Saudi Arabia. The addition of Red Sea International will expand its network to a destination focused on coastal and resort travel. Throughout the year, the airline also transports passengers for business, family visits, and religious trips across Saudi Arabia. Customers from Gulf and Indian subcontinent markets can now reach this new destination with a single connection through Abu Dhabi.
Red Sea International broadens regional flight options
Red Sea International Airport started domestic flights in September 2023 and saw its first international service in April 2024. It added a direct route to Doha in October 2025. Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Global developed the airport as the gateway to The Red Sea tourism area on the country’s northwestern coast. This region includes islands, reefs, lagoons, mangroves, and mountains, with resorts spread across coastal and island sites.
Red Sea Global, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, is also behind the AMAALA tourism project. The company states that Red Sea International facilitates access to resorts within The Red Sea development. daa International manages the airport. Travelers can continue from the terminal by electric vehicle, boat, or seaplane. The airport operates on renewable energy for airside functions like lighting and navigation systems for arriving and departing aircrafts.
Etihad Adds a Sixth Destination in Saudi Arabia
Etihad Chief Executive Antonoaldo Neves mentioned that the new route offers travelers quick access to the islands and reefs of the Red Sea from Abu Dhabi. The airline plans to keep the service year-round rather than seasonal. Its move from one to two weekly flights will happen three weeks after the service begins. This route will connect Red Sea International directly with Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub and its wider international network.
The inaugural flight to Red Sea International is scheduled for Oct. 4, 2026, with bookings already available. The twice-weekly flights will start on Oct. 25 using the same Airbus A320 configuration. With this launch, Etihad will serve six destinations within Saudi Arabia, including the Red Sea coast. The new service provides a direct air link between Abu Dhabi and one of Saudi Arabia’s newest international airports.