Etihad Airways continues to expand its global network, as the airline recently announced a key new destination in the Middle East to Damascus, Syria.
New route to Damascus
The new routes in the Middle East'[] to Damascus, Syria, will commence in June 2026, operated by Etihad’s Airbus A320 aircraft. The airline stated that the new routes reflect the growing demand from customers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) needing to connect directly to Damascus.
The airline added that connecting to Damascus provides customers from Syria with direct access to the beautiful emirate of Abu Dhabi. With access to Zayed International Airport, passengers can benefit from the airline’s expansive global network. As mentioned before, the service to Damascus will commence on June 12, 2026, operated by an Airbus A320 on a four-times-weekly flight.
The A320 will feature eight Business seats and 150 Economy seats, ensuring comfort and convenience, including the airline’s hospitality. The economic links deepen the bonds between the UAE and Syria, as trade between the two grew by 23% year-on-year in 2024, amounting to AED 2.5 billion (£505,000,000). The airline stated that the UAE houses more than 350,000 Syrians who contribute to its business, culture, and society and have played a crucial role in the UAE’s development.
Flight Schedule
The addition of Damascus brings the airline’s total number of new destinations announced within the last year to 28. It’s also on track to reach 38 million passengers annually by 2030, as its number of passengers grew by more than 80% compared to the number carried in 2022.
Flights from Abu Dhabi will commence on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, departing at 9:15 a.m. and arriving in Damascus at 11:30 a.m, with flight number EY561. Flights from Damascus to Abu Dhabi will depart at 15:00 p.m. and arrive at 19:00 p.m, on the same days mentioned above, with flight number EY562. Both flights will be operated by Etihad’s Airbus A320.
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