16-05-2025
15 Hours Nonstop: Charlotte Gets Its First Ultra Long-Haul Route
Etihad's bet on Charlotte underscores a broader strategy: using Abu Dhabi's growing hub status, and its unique U.S. Pre-Clearance advantage, to build traffic beyond traditional gateways.
North Carolina is getting its first ultra long-haul route. On Friday, Etihad Airways announced plans to connect its Abu Dhabi hub with Charlotte.
Four flights a week are due to begin on May 4, 2026. The service will be operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner with business and economy class cabins. The widebody aircraft is built in North Charleston in neighboring South Carolina.
The UAE national carrier will be the first Middle Eastern airline to serve Charlotte nonstop. Boston, Chicago, New York, and Washington D.C. are already on the Etihad network map, with Atlanta due to join on July 2.
Described by Etihad as 'one of America's most dynamic financial and cultural hubs,' the airline's entry to the market supercharges the city's connectivity. However, despite being one of the country's busiest airports, it has only a handful of long-haul routes. These include American Airlines to London Heathrow and Lufthansa's link to Munich.
With a journey time of 15 hours westbound, and just under 14 hours on the return to Abu Dhabi, it will easily become Charlotte's longest nonstop flight.
The Power of Pre-Clearance
Given the limited market for point-to-point traffic between the cities, Etihad will be relying upon connecting passengers through its new home at Abu Dhabi International Airport to make a success of the new route.
The schedule has been optimized to leverage this transit traffic. Early morning departures from the UAE and midday return flights from the U.S. are designed for smooth connections.
In a recent interview with Airline Weekly, Etihad chief revenue and commercial officer Arik De discussed the commercial opportunities afforded by U.S. Pre-Clearance in Abu Dhabi. The city's airport is unique in the region by offering passengers flying to the United States the ability to clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the UAE, effectively arriving in America as a domestic passenger.
Speaking on Friday, Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad CEO, said the addition of Charlotte represented 'a strategic addition' to the airline's network.
However, the carrier might not have Charlotte to itself for long. Last year, Turkish Airlines chairman Ahmet Bolat reportedly named Charlotte as a possible target for U.S. expansion.
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