Etihad Airways celebrates 20 years of flying to France | News

Etihad Airways is celebrating 20 years of flying to France, 20 years after it launched its first service to the country in June 2006, between Abu Dhabi and Paris. What started as six flights a week has grown into an airline that now operates a fleet of 124 aircraft to 118 destinations worldwide. Twenty years later, the airline is in a renewed phase of growth, with demand continuing to increase in its European markets.

When Etihad first flew to Paris in June 2006, it was a young airline, less than three years old, with a network of around 34 destinations and a fleet of 17 aircraft.

Twenty years later, Etihad connects Abu Dhabi and Paris with up to three daily flights, and its French network now spans two cities, with seasonal summer flights to and from Nice on the French Riviera. Etihad’s global network has grown to 118 destinations across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia, served by a fleet of 124 aircraft.

The anniversary comes at a time of renewed momentum for Etihad. The airline is once again operating above the capacity it flew a year ago and continues to expand across Europe, with new routes, added frequencies and codeshare partnerships strengthening its offering from the region. Etihad is also investing in growth for the coming years, with the ambition to expand its fleet to around 250 aircraft and double the size of the airline, increasing choice for travelers in France and beyond.

The core of that network is Abu Dhabi, home of Etihad and a destination that French travelers are increasingly choosing for themselves. The UAE capital brings together Emirati heritage and contemporary culture, from the tranquility of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and the galleries of the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island to the beaches of the Arabian Gulf and the racecourse and theme parks of Yas Island.

Every eligible international guest flying to Abu Dhabi with Etihad now arrives with free travel medical insurance. In partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi, visitors are automatically covered for up to 15 days in the UAE, with no application required (valid from July to December 2026; terms and conditions apply). Guests can get even more out of their stay with the Abu Dhabi Stopover program, which offers eligible travelers up to two free hotel nights.

In addition to Abu Dhabi, Etihad also connects French travelers to some of the world’s most popular leisure destinations, with the beaches of Bali, Phuket and the Maldives, the cities of Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, and the islands of the Seychelles among the most sought-after. Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean are attracting particularly strong demand.

Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways said: “Twenty years of flying to France is a milestone we are proud of, and at its heart are the travelers who have chosen Etihad for twenty years. More and more of them are discovering Abu Dhabi for themselves, in addition to the wider world that our network opens up, and it is a privilege to continue to welcome them on board.”

Flights between Paris and Abu Dhabi can now be booked on etihad.com.