Etihad Airways and Vietnam Airlines are deepening travel ties between the UAE and Vietnam with the launch of a new codeshare partnership, further enhancing Etihad’s recently introduced service between Abu Dhabi and Hanoi.

Under the agreement, Etihad passengers can now connect to key domestic destinations across Vietnam, as well as major cities throughout Asia, all on a single ticket with one check-in and seamless baggage transfers. Abu Dhabi becomes an effortless connecting hub linking Vietnam to the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.

Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, said: “This partnership with Vietnam Airlines brings tremendous value to our guests by opening access to some of Asia’s most vibrant and sought-after destinations. Our new Abu Dhabi–Hanoi service has been very well received, and this codeshare turns it into a true gateway to Vietnam’s most exciting cities.

“Combined with our frequent flyer partnership—which allows loyalty members of both airlines to earn and redeem miles across our global networks—this collaboration reinforces our commitment to offering greater flexibility, expanded reach, and an enhanced travel experience.”

Nguyen Quang Trung, Director of Corporate Planning and Development at Vietnam Airlines, said: “Vietnam Airlines is delighted to advance our cooperation with Etihad Airways through this new codeshare agreement, following the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024. This partnership provides seamless access to Etihad’s network across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, while welcoming more travelers to experience Vietnam Airlines’ signature hospitality. Alongside our expanded frequent flyer partnership, the agreement improves convenience, broadens destination options, and strengthens tourism and economic links between Vietnam and the UAE.”

The codeshare will be rolled out in phases. Vietnam Airlines passengers will soon gain access to six destinations beyond Abu Dhabi—Athens, Addis Ababa, Bahrain, Muscat, Cairo, and Istanbul—significantly extending their reach into the Middle East, Europe, and Africa through Etihad’s global network.

Etihad and Vietnam Airlines already share a frequent flyer partnership launched in July 2025, enabling Etihad Guest and Lotus Miles members to earn and redeem miles across both airlines’ networks. The arrangement adds further value to the expanded code-share cooperation between the two carriers.

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, just announced seven additional new destinations to further expand its network as part of its ongoing strategy to bring more point-to-point traffic directly to Abu Dhabi. The seven new destinations will be added to a total of 20 already announced or started destinations in 2025. The new destinations – Almaty, Kazakhstan; Baku, Azerbaijan; Bucharest, Romania; Medina, Saudi Arabia; Tbilisi, Georgia; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; and Yerevan, Armenia – will further strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a thriving hub for tourism, culture, and commerce. The flights are set to go on sale over the next few days, and services will begin in March 2026. However, Etihad will start flying to Medina as early as November 2025.

Strengthening tourism

Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad’s Chief Executive Officer said: “Our goal is clear, we want to bring more people directly to Abu Dhabi. These new routes connect us to fast-growing, culturally rich regions and will help stimulate demand for tourism and trade in the UAE’s capital. “From the spiritual significance of Medina to the historic charm of Tbilisi and Yerevan, and the modern vibrancy of cities like Baku and Almaty, each destination adds depth to our growing network and attracts travellers with diverse interests. “With these seven additions, Etihad will have announced or commenced operations to 27 new routes in a single year – a remarkable milestone that reflects our ambition and commitment to Abu Dhabi’s growth. “Whether for business or leisure, guests can expect a seamless journey and world-class hospitality that reflects Etihad’s elevated service. These connections make it easier than ever to experience everything Abu Dhabi has to offer.” Etihad has already celebrated inaugural flights to four new destinations this year – Prague, Warsaw, Sochi and Atlanta. The Abu Dhabi carrier will add another 13 routes before the year closes. Among them are Algiers, Chiang Mai and Krabi (Thailand), Hanoi (Vietnam), Hong Kong, Medan (Indonesia) Peshawar (Pakistan), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Taipei and Tunis.

Three new destinations for 2026

The announcement comes just days after Etihad unveiled three new seasonal summer destinations for 2026. There are Krakow in Poland, Salalah in Oman, and Kazan in Russia. All will operate during the peak travel months. According to the airline's planned schedule, Baku and Yerevan will benefit of 10 weekly flights; Almaty and Tbilisi of 8 weekly frequencies ; Medina and Tashkent of 6 flights/week and Bucharest of 4 flights/week.

Etihad Airways inked a collaboration agreement with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to promote tourism to Thailand through Etihad’s global network. They signed a memorandum of cooperation at the recent ATM in Dubai. The MoC will see both promote high-quality travel experiences in Thailand via various marketing infinitives. Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, said: "Thailand is a very important market for Etihad, this is demonstrated by our continued expansion into the market with two new destinations this year.” “This agreement will help further strengthen our relationship with the Kingdom of Thailand and Etihad’s position in the market." Etihad announced the addition of two new destinations in Thailand, among the 16 new routes the airline is launching this year. Flights to Krabi and Chiang Mai will begin in October and November respectively, and will strengthen the airline’s presence in the market. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, added: “Our partnership with Etihad marks a significant milestone in advancing Thailand’s position as a preferred global destination.” “We are confident that this collaboration will inspire more travellers to explore Thailand.”

Etihad Airways, alongside the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi celebrated the success of the Abu Dhabi stopover programme at Arabian Travel Market 2025. They say visitor numbers continue to accelerate at an impressive pace. The Stopover Programme has garnered 25,000 bookings in the first four months of 2025, representing 47% growth compared to 2024. The number of visitors grew to 44,000 through April 2025, marking a substantial 76% increase. The programme welcomed 85,000 international stopover visitors last year. Etihad Airways anticipates more than 130,000 stopover guests in total in 2025. The programme attracts visitors from across Etihad’s global network, with notable interest from the US and Canada. The programme's appeal has been cemented by the new Abu Dhabi Pass launched in March, which provides additional benefits for travellers. The digital Abu Dhabi Pass offers free airport transfers, a tourist SIM card with data connectivity, unlimited access to public buses, and 24-hour unlimited access to the hop-on-hop-off tourist bus network. Pass holders also enjoy discounts of up to 15% at leading attractions including Qasr Al Watan, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Yas Island's attractions Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld. Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad Airways CEO, said: "By offering up to two complimentary hotel nights, we're giving visitors the perfect opportunity to experience our destination." The average length of stay for stopover visitors has increased since 2024, with travellers exploring more attractions during their visit.

Etihad Airways has rolled out a new corporate travel programme. It’s a significant advancement in the airline's corporate travel offerings, the Gulf carrier says. The programme aims to simplify corporate travel management processes while providing customised benefits based on each client company’s specific requirements. It features a comprehensive travel management portal and dedicated support options. Javier Alija, VP, Global Sales & Distribution at Etihad Airways said: "This new programme demonstrates support for our corporate partners with solutions that meet their evolving needs." It offers businesses a range of benefits that expand with their travel volume, including special corporate rates, priority services, and enhanced flexibility. For larger organisations, it includes additional features such as dedicated account management and customised travel solutions. Alija added: "Whether it's a growing enterprise or an established multinational, we've designed our offerings to support their success." The digital platform has a performance tracking function, automated reporting, and simplified expense management. Companies can access their personalised benefits package through a dedicated corporate portal.

Etihad Airways is set to debut its all-new Airbus A321LR, offering signature wide-body comfort on its short and medium-haul routes. The airline says the A321LR fleet brings Etihad’s signature luxury with a First-Class experience to narrow body flying. “The A321LR proves our commitment to luxury, customer experience, and connectivity,” said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways. “With our new First Suites, we've taken the luxury experience on our widebody fleet and adapted it to offer guests the same experience in a single-aisle aircraft.” “More broadly, the A321LR marks a transformational moment for Etihad.” Etihad’s A321LR introduces an all-new adapted First Suite with a private space with a sliding door and lie-flat bed. There are just two exclusive First Suites on each jet. The First Suite offers additional space for a companion as well as a large 20” 4K screen for entertainment, with Bluetooth pairing and wireless charging. The new Business cabin features widebody-style seats, all forward facing with direct aisle access (1-1) in a herringbone layout. In Economy there are 144 seats with up to 5” recline. Every guest gets access to USB charging onboard. In the UAE and all First destinations, guests will enjoy a private chauffeur service to and from the airport. First class guests will also be personally escorted through a dedicated Check In to the Etihad First Lounge and then for boarding. In Abu Dhabi, First guests will also soon benefit from complimentary Home Check-In and Land & Leave services, offering a baggage-free airport experience. Etihad’s first A321LR enters service on 1 August 2025, with ten aircraft joining the fleet this year. The aircraft will fly from Abu Dhab to destinations including Algiers, Athens, Bangkok, Chennai, Chiang Mai, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Kolkata, Krabi, Medan, Milan, Paris, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Riyadh, Tunis, and Zurich.

Etihad Airways and Spanish carrier Air Europa are set to expand their cooperation to a strategic partnership. They are working toward enhancing commercial and operational ties. Etihad is increasing its flights to twice daily to Air Europa’s hub in Madrid from summer 2025. The partnership would further strengthen connectivity between Europe and Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer of Etihad Airways, said: " We are in discussions to establish a strategic partnership covering a range of activities, including deepening our codeshare and frequent flyer programme. They are also exploring a potential wet lease operation with an Air Europa aircraft between Madrid and Abu Dhabi. “Our partnership with Etihad will become even more rewarding for our customers. By initiating our operations between Madrid-Barajas and Abu Dhabi, it will further extend our reach to the Middle East and Asia,” said Richard Clark, Air Europa's General Manager. Etihad and Air Europa already have a partnership that includes bilateral codesharing and allows members of their frequent flyer programmes to earn and redeem miles.

Etihad Airways has rolled out its upgraded digital experience across etihad.com and the mobile app. The website navigation has been refreshed as a standout left-side menu allowing users to move efficiently through the site. It now features a new bold colour scheme of ‘midnight dune’. During the online check-in process many new features have been added including pre-populated data to save time, an improved seat map and streamlined access to travel extras. Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “We’ve completely redesigned the digital experience ensuring that our guests enjoy engaging with us from the very first touch of a screen.” “Furthermore, we’ve made sure our valued Etihad Guest members can enjoy the benefits of a more personalised experience.” The Etihad Airways mobile app, on both Android and iOS, now also serves as a digital travel assistant with booking, trip management and loyalty member profiles in one place. Ahead of travel, customers will find the most important information and tools they need with quick access to boarding passes, real-time gate updates, boarding times, baggage status and more. One of the main benefits of the new digital experience is the integration of the Etihad Guest programme to both the website and app. As well as a more personalised experience, Etihad Guest members can now view and manage aspects of their loyalty programme from a single point, including tracking tier status, selecting their loyalty benefits, and earning or spending miles. Travellers also have easy access to book an integrated Abu Dhabi Stopover experience as part of their travel itinerary when flying through Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Airways has more features and personalisation to its website and app. The improvements to etihad.com and the Etihad Airways mobile app introduce new market-specific payment options, expanded self-service capabilities, and improved loyalty programme features. Guests can now pay using local payment methods in key markets including India and Europe, modify their bookings through the improved self-service options, and redeem Etihad Guest miles for flights and upgrades. They also offer a more intuitive booking process with features such as calendar-based fare searches and more local language options. In the Indian market specifically, customers benefit from Hindi language support and locally preferred payment options. Etihad Airways says further upcoming improvements to the check-in process and more accurate, timely travel updates are coming. Frank Meyer, Chief Digital Officer at Etihad Airways, said: "By consistently refining our digital touchpoints, we've been able to rapidly implement enhancements that directly benefit our customers." Behind these customer-facing improvements, Etihad says it has strengthened its digital infrastructure with streamlined processes, enabling the airline to deploy approximately four releases per week. It has completed 160 updates so far this year across its web and mobile channels. 

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Gulf carrier Etihad Airways has hailed the success of the Abu Dhabi Stopover tourist programme. The programme is an initiative between the airline and Department of Culture and Tourism. The relaunch of the initiative has exceeded expectations, they say, and has significantly boosted Abu Dhabi's tourism sector. The Abu Dhabi Stopover programme, which is exclusive to Etihad Airways, has welcomed 24,000 international visitors in the first half of 2024, compared to 7,000 in the latter half of 2023 – a huge increase of 242%. It puts the initiative on track to achieve its ambitious target of 75,000 international stopover visitors in 2024. Antonoaldo Neves, CEO, Etihad Airways, said: "The growth of our Abu Dhabi Stopover programme has far exceeded our projections. We've seen international visitors more than triple in just six months." Travellers are spending an average two nights’ stay to explore Abu Dhabi. The key markets include England, the US, Australia, EU countries, and India. The airline points to a new, user-friendly landing page on etihad.com which it says have driven a 43% increase in web traffic seeking information about Abu Dhabi. Travellers booking flights with Etihad can easily add a stopover and select a complimentary hotel stay for one or two nights from a range of hotels across the city. Etihad Airways and DCT Abu Dhabi are exploring ways to further enhance the programme. Etihad connects 80 destinations through its Zayed International Airport hub. 

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