Growing Italian demand adds momentum to Abu Dhabi's visitor economy
Triple-daily Milan and double-daily Rome flights responding to market appetite
Abu Dhabi, UAE – Etihad Airways is reporting significant growth in travel demand between Italy and Abu Dhabi. The uplift is supporting Abu Dhabi's tourism ambitions and reinforcing broader commercial and cultural links between Italy and the UAE.
Jurriaan Stelder, SVP Network, Alliances and Industry Affairs, Etihad Airways, said: "The consistent growth we're seeing from the Italian market highlights Abu Dhabi's appeal as both a destination and global hub. Italian travellers are responding well to our offering, with steady demand across both leisure and business segments. This connectivity is strengthening tourism and supporting deeper ties across trade, culture and investment."
Italy has emerged as one of Etihad's fastest-growing European markets, with travel between Italy and Abu Dhabi increasing by 76% compared to 2023. This reflects the growing appeal of the UAE capital as a destination for Italian visitors.
This sustained demand has prompted Etihad to increase frequencies to triple-daily flights between Milan Malpensa Airport and Abu Dhabi, and double-daily flights from Rome Fiumicino Airport, providing Italian travellers with convenient options to visit Abu Dhabi.
The third daily frequency on Milan will be operated by Etihad's new Airbus A321LR, offering a premium experience that includes a dedicated First class cabin, fully lie-flat Business seats, high-speed Wi-Fi, and an enhanced onboard dining service. This aircraft brings Etihad's signature long-haul comfort to short- and medium haul travel, further elevating the travel experience for Italian guests.
From November, Etihad will be offering more than 10,000 weekly seats between Italy and Abu Dhabi per direction, representing an 80% capacity increase compared to November 2023. The number of premium seats available will double to more than 1,000 per week, responding to increased demand in this segment.
The airline continues to strengthen its presence in Italy through strategic partnerships. Through our partners ITA Airways and Trenitalia, travellers can travel from 14 domestic airports and 31 railway stations across Italy to connect to Etihad's flights from Rome and Milan. This builds on the successful codeshare partnership with ITA Airways which was established in December 2021, enabling enhanced connectivity between the UAE and Italy.
Italian travellers are embracing Etihad's Abu Dhabi Stopover programme, which offers complimentary hotel stays for up to two nights, allowing visitors to experience Abu Dhabi's cultural attractions, pristine beaches, and world-class entertainment venues. Stopover bookings from the Italian market have grown by 92% since 2024.
As demand from the Italian market continues to grow, Etihad is positioned to accommodate increasing passenger numbers with its current schedule.
"The solid performance of our Italy routes reflects Abu Dhabi's position as both a destination for Italian travellers and a convenient global hub," said Stelder. "This growth supports tourism while building long-term value through deeper ties with one of our most important European markets."
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, was formed in 2003 and quickly went on to become one of the world's leading airlines. From its home in Abu Dhabi, Etihad flies to passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Together with Etihad's codeshare partners, Etihad's network offers access to hundreds of international destinations. In recent years, Etihad has received numerous awards for its superior service and products, cargo offering, loyalty programme and more.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
Inzaghi leaves Inter after Champions League final thrashing
Simone Inzaghi has left his position as manager of Inter Milan, the Serie A club said on Tuesday, after a humiliating 5-0 loss in the Champions League final against Paris St Germain capped a trophyless season. Inter suffered a dismal end to their campaign with Saturday's thrashing in Munich coming after they finished second in Serie A, one point behind champions Napoli, and were knocked out in the Coppa Italia semifinals 4–1 on aggregate by city rivals AC Milan. Inter face a race against time to appoint a new manager before the Club World Cup, with their campaign getting underway against Mexican side Monterrey on June 17. "The time has come for me to say goodbye to this club after a four-year journey, during which I gave everything," Inzaghi said in a separate statement. Inzaghi won six trophies at Inter: one Serie A title, two Coppa Italia triumphs and three Italian Super Cups. "I want to dedicate one last word to the millions of Nerazzurri (Inter) fans who cheered me on, cried and suffered in difficult moments and laughed and celebrated in the six triumphs we experienced together," he added. "I will never forget you." Italian media reported that Inzaghi will join Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal and will lead them in the Club World Cup in the United States. Inter confirmed that the decision for Inzaghi to leave the club was taken by mutual agreement earlier in the day. "I would like to thank Simone Inzaghi for the work done, for the passion shown and also for the sincerity in today's discussion, which led to the common decision to separate our paths," club president Giuseppe Marotta said in a statement. La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Como's Cesc Fabregas and Olympique de Marseille's Roberto De Zerbi are potential candidates to replace Inzaghi at Inter. Several managers have left their clubs since the Serie A season wrapped up. Marco Baroni left Lazio after leading the club to a disappointing seventh-placed finish, paving the way for Maurizio Sarri's return a year after resigning. Atalanta are also searching for a new coach after Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed his departure on Saturday. Massimiliano Allegri returned as AC Milani coach for a second stint on Friday after the club sacked Sergio Conceicao after a season that saw them fail to qualify for any European competition.
The National
4 hours ago
- The National
Stanley Tucci doesn't want to be globetrotting food expert like Anthony Bourdain
Stanley Tucci has a lot of time to think, and he hates it. The American actor, 64, has spent the majority of his life making movies – Conclave, The Devil Wears Prada, The Hunger Games, to name a few – and as much as he loves acting, he laments the fact that he doesn't actually do all that much of it. 'Acting doesn't fulfil me as much as it used to,' Tucci tells The National. 'You're on these sets for 12 to 13 hours a day, and you may only act for 20 minutes of that time. I end up thinking, 'there's got to be a better way to do this!' I just want to keep going and going – I'm very impatient. 'I get paid to wait. It's the acting I do for free. That's the way I feel, at this point.' The problem is, when you're sitting around all day, you're rarely learning something – even about yourself. It's a problem we all have – but he has lost patience with that disconnect. Which is why, over the last decade, Tucci has gone out into the world to learn more about who he really is – through travel and especially through food. 'I think we've gotten out of touch with ourselves physically,' Tucci explains. 'One of the reasons is we're all sitting in front of computers, or on our phones all the time – or myself, waiting on a set – and desk work is far more prominent than doing any kind of labour.' In Tucci's mind, it's all connected. By focusing more on what he eats, he's thought more about where it comes from – the land, and the culture and traditions the land inspires. And by starting at the source, we see ourselves more clearly. 'Getting in touch with the land is so important. From the land comes our food, and then the food goes onto the table, and into us,' says Tucci. Growing up, Tucci was also quite disconnected from his roots. He didn't understand why all the other kids at his small-town school 75km outside of New York City were eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and he was having leftovers his mother had packed him of last night's eggplant parmigiana. But with each passing decade, he has increasingly immersed himself in his Italian heritage – and embracing even its flaws. And by focusing his journey on food, he has ended up learning more about the country's rich complexities than one might imagine. All of this is in service to understanding the country – and himself – better. 'I don't want to romanticise Italy. I think that's been done ad nauseam. I think it's not interesting and it's not truthful,' says Tucci. Tucci in Italy, his new National Geographic series broadcast weekly in the UAE and available to stream on Disney+, embraces what he feels is the true Italy. In the first episode, for example, he explores Tuscany, focusing specifically on dishes that were created by and for the working class. First he tries lampredotto, the Florentine street food sandwich made from the fourth stomach of a cow. It's named after the eels that once inhabited the Arno river, and only the rich could afford. The tripe dish, then, was invented to imitate its flavours. But the story doesn't stop here. Tucci then finds another old peasant dish made with imitation tripe by those that couldn't even afford cow stomach. That one might even be his favourite. Politically speaking, there's a reason that he focuses on the lower class – at a time when, once again, immigrants and the poor are being scapegoated, both in Italy and in the US. It's something his immigrant family likely went through once, too. 'I think particularly in today's climate, immigrants are vilified and wrongly so, because they have so much to bring to a culture. Millions of Italians once came over to America, and they were vilified to a certain extent. Also, I think that's something that Italian Americans have to remember, and Italians themselves should remember, too,' says Tucci. But as much as he's enjoyed diving into the unexplored corners of Italy for the series – with another season already shot and set to air next year – he's also adamant that his journey will stop there. While he wants to go deeper into his ancestral homeland, a project he started with the CNN series Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy in 2021, he doesn't want to explore the rest of the world on camera. It's clear he doesn't want to be the next Anthony Bourdain – the late chef who grew internationally famous for his globetrotting food series Parts Unknown. 'I don't want to do different regions and different countries, because I don't think that would be appropriate. I don't have a connection to those countries,' Tucci explains. In fact, it sounds like Tucci doesn't think there should be another Anthony Bourdain at all. Instead, he wants the Tucci in Italy model to be repeated globally – starring figures who are looking to explore their roots, not modern-day adventurers looking to become the Indiana Jones of restaurants. 'I think it would be more interesting to have somebody like me explore those countries in the way that I've done it – and they need to have a connection to those countries. They need to speak the language, and they have to really, really appreciate the food – not just like to eat. 'They have to know food and be willing to explore and ask questions. It's not just about what's delicious – it's about understanding the passion of the people that make it.' The next season of Tucci in Italy may be the final food travel series for Tucci. 'I'm kind of tired,' he says. Tucci is grappling with the fact that, at 64, he's aging. And part of knowing himself now is about knowing how to navigate his limitations. He's doing that by focusing, once again, on food. 'As a person who's getting older, your body is changing all the time – meaning it's getting weaker all the time. You need to know what it is you need to strengthen yourself - to keep yourself strong. Otherwise I'll grow impatient with myself, too.'
The National
4 hours ago
- The National
Abu Dhabi's XRG targets LNG and gas capacity of up to 25m tonnes a year by 2035
Adnoc's global energy investment arm XRG aims to have a gas and LNG business with capacity of between 20 to 25 million tonnes per annum by 2035 as it looks to scale up its operations globally. XRG's board, which includes Adnoc group managing director and chief executive Dr Sultan Al Jaber, former BP chief executive Bernard Looney and Blackstone's Jon Gray, approved a five-year business plan for the company on Monday. 'XRG is investing in the energy systems of the future – more integrated, more resilient, and responsive to global demand,' Dr Al Jaber, who is also the executive chairman of XRG, said. 'We are scaling platforms in gas, chemicals and energy solutions to drive long-term value and ensure energy remains a catalyst for sustainable growth and development.' XRG was launched last year as an international lower-carbon energy and chemicals investment company, with an enterprise value exceeding $80 billion. In December, President Sheikh Mohamed endorsed the appointment of the board of directors for the new unit. Other members of the board include Mohamed Alsuwaidi, UAE Minister of Investment and managing director and chief executive of Abu Dhabi's holding company ADQ, and Nassef Sawiris, the executive chair of OCI Global. The board 'supported the assessment of potential upstream gas M&A and LNG opportunities to strengthen its North American gas position", the statement said. Last month, the UAE made an announcement to increase the value of its investments in the US energy sector to $440 billion by 2035, from the current $70 billion, during US President Donald Trump's visit to the Gulf countries. That is part of the UAE's plan to invest $1.4 trillion in the country. XRG bought a stake in NextDecade's Rio Grande liquefied natural gas export facility in Texas last year along with other acquisitions in Mozambique and Turkmenistan. The board also endorsed the 'company's ambition to create a top-three global chemicals platform", the statement said. 'Subject to respective regulatory approvals, the proposed formation of Borouge Group International and the proposed acquisition of Covestro anchors an industry-leading portfolio across polyolefins, performance materials, and future speciality segments.' In December, XRG announced the acquisition of the German chemicals company Covestro for an enterprise value of €14.7 billion ($15.3 billion). In March, Adnoc also agreed to terms of a binding agreement with Austria's OMV to merge their polyolefins business and create a $60 billion Borouge Group International. The board also directed XRG through its Energy Solutions platform to expand its investments across the energy value chain "while continuing to develop select opportunities in carbon capture and storage and low-carbon fuels such as biofuels and low-carbon hydrogen that align with attractive return profiles". That comes amid growth in AI-linked power demand, particularly in the US, the statement added.
