ABU DHABI: Etihad Airways has announced a major expansion of its operations in Italy, introducing a third daily flight between Abu Dhabi and Milan-Malpensa Airport (MXP).
The new service, commencing on 1st November 2025, will increase the airline’s weekly capacity on the route to 12,600 seats, marking a 115 percent year-on-year increase.
The additional frequency reflects growing demand for travel between the two cities and enhances connectivity between the UAE and Italy.
"With our morning, afternoon, and evening departures from Abu Dhabi and sensational value fares, our triple-daily Milan flights serve up perfect timings for guests travelling in both directions," said Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways.
State-of-the-art fleet
The new flight will be operated using a mix of Boeing 777-300 and Airbus A321LR aircraft, the latter being a new addition to Etihad’s fleet. The A321LR, set to debut in 2025, will offer a premium boutique experience, featuring an innovative cabin design and enhanced comfort features.
Passengers can enjoy complimentary Wi-Fly chat packages if they are Etihad Guest members, while unlimited Surf packages will be available for purchase.
Enhanced schedule
Etihad’s new schedule has been designed to maximise convenience for both business and leisure travellers. The airline’s three daily Abu Dhabi-Milan flights will depart at 02:45, 09:10, and 14:25, arriving in Milan at 06:40, 13:15, and 18:20 respectively.
For the return journey, flights from Milan will depart at 09:55, 15:10, and 21:50, landing in Abu Dhabi at 19:00, 00:25 (+1), and 06:55 (+1).
To celebrate the expansion, Etihad is launching a special three-day fare sale from 27-29 January. Economy class fares start at Dh398 one-way, when booking a return journey for travel between 1 June and 30 November 2025.
Etihad’s global expansion
The introduction of a third daily flight to Milan is part of Etihad’s ambitious growth strategy. In recent months, the airline has announced direct services to Nairobi, Kenya, a codeshare agreement with Air Astana, and plans to launch flights to ten new destinations in 2025. These include Algiers, Atlanta, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Krabi, Medan, Phnom Penh, Taipei, and Tunis.
Etihad currently operates a fleet of 104 aircraft, with 98 more on order, including 20 Airbus A321LRs, 15 A350-1000s, 17 Boeing 777-9s, and 20 Boeing 787-10s.