Etihad Flight Touches Down in Atlanta, Deepening Air Connections to Middle East and Beyond

The inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi to Atlanta touched down Wednesday, an Airbus A350-1000 welcomed with a water-cannon salute as Etihad Airways made its first descent into the world’s busiest airport at 4:20 p.m. 

The Middle Eastern carrier, the national airline for the United Arab Emirates, now flies four times weekly to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. 

Officials previously announced that the flight had already seen strong enough ticket demand to increase the frequency to daily in November. 

“It’s a clear sign that travelers are eager to discover everything Abu Dhabi has to offer,” from beaches to theme parks and cultural experiences, Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad, said in a news release.

The new flight constitutes the only nonstop link between Atlanta and United Arab Emirates, and guests on Etihad will be able to partake in a free stopover program for up to two nights in Abu Dhabi, the national capital and one of seven emirates within the Persian Gulf state. 

Beyond its home base, the airline had been counting strong demand for one-stop access to southern Indian cities like Chennai, Mumbai and Bengaluru, or the Pakistani port city of Karachi. 

That seems to have panned out, with business and leisure bookings both exceeding expectations and proving out the Atlanta market, the airline said. 

The Etihad A350s are equipped with 44 lie-flat business class suites with sliding doors for privacy, along with 327 seats in economy. 

As a benefit for Americans, Zayed International Airport offers U.S. Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance, allowing travelers to be screened in the UAE and land in U.S. domestic terminals, skipping the customs line upon their return home or as they make their way to connecting flights. 

In-flight, customers have access to free Wi-Fi for messaging apps with the option of upgrading to Web surfing throughout the flight. 

View the full news release here