Etihad Airways will boost its daily flights to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) and Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) after the airline reported significant growth in travel demand between Italy and Abu Dhabi.
The growth in travel demand supports Abu Dhabi’s tourism ambitions and reinforces broader commercial and cultural links between Italy and the UAE, Etihad said.
Italy has emerged as one of the Abu Dhabi-based carrier’s fastest-growing European markets, with travel between Italy and Abu Dhabi increasing by 76% compared to 2023. This reflects the growing appeal of the UAE capital as a destination for Italian visitors.
According to Etihad, the demand has prompted the company to increase frequencies to thrice-daily flights between Milan and Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), and twice-daily flights from Rome Fiumicino Airport.
The third daily frequency to Milan will be operated by Etihad’s new Airbus A321LR. From November 2025, Etihad will offer more than 10,000 weekly seats between Italy and Abu Dhabi per direction, representing an 80% capacity increase compared to November 2023.
Etihad said the number of premium seats available will double to more than 1,000 per week due to the increased demand in this segment.
Travelers from Italy can also use Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Stopover program, which offers complimentary hotel stays for up to two nights, allowing visitors to experience Abu Dhabi’s attractions. Stopover bookings from the Italian market have grown by 92% since 2024, Etihad said.
“The consistent growth we’re seeing from the Italian market highlights Abu Dhabi’s appeal as both a destination and global hub. Italian travellers are responding well to our offering, with steady demand across both leisure and business segments. This connectivity is strengthening tourism and supporting deeper ties across trade, culture and investment,” said Jurriaan Stelder, SVP Network, Alliances and Industry Affairs at Etihad Airways.
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