Etihad adds Chicago, Charlotte flights

Etihad Airways is adding more U.S. flying, with Chicago going double-daily and Charlotte rising to daily service from June 15. (etihad.com) The airline announced the changes on April 24, saying Abu Dhabi-Chicago O’Hare will move to two flights a day. Charlotte will increase from four weekly flights to seven. (etihad.com) (zawya.com) Charlotte is a brand-new route for Etihad. Its first scheduled flight arrived at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on March 20, 2026, operated by an Airbus A350-1000. (etihad.com) Etihad said the Charlotte increase is tied to “strong early performance” after that March launch. The airline also said the extra U.S. capacity is aimed at traffic connecting beyond Abu Dhabi to India and Asia-Pacific. (etihad.com) Chicago is already one of Etihad’s established U.S. gateways, so the bigger change is frequency rather than a new destination. Doubling service gives the carrier more schedule flexibility for both local Chicago traffic and onward connections. (etihad.com) (aviationbusinessme.com) The airline’s own U.S. homepage is already advertising “More flights for summer,” highlighting double-daily Chicago and daily Charlotte service. That suggests Etihad is pushing the expansion as part of its summer 2026 sales window. (etihad.com) Etihad said the move will also improve access to the U.S. domestic network through partner airlines. For Charlotte, that matters because the airport is a major American Airlines hub with extensive onward service. (etihad.com 1) (etihad.com 2) The June 15 increase turns a route Etihad launched on March 20 into a daily operation in less than three months. Chicago, meanwhile, becomes a two-flight-a-day market as the airline leans harder into U.S. growth through Abu Dhabi. (etihad.com 1) (etihad.com 2)