Red Sea International Airport (RSI), operated by daa International, is expanding its GCC connectivity through a new scheduled operation with Etihad Airways.
Etihad will begin flying from Zayed International Airport (AUH) to RSI every Sunday from 4 October 2026, adding a second weekly service on Thursdays from 25 October 2026. The route will be operated year‑round using an Airbus A320.
Michael White, chief commercial officer at Red Sea International Airport, said: “Red Sea International Airport is the front door to The Red Sea coast, home to two of the world’s most ambitious new destinations, The Red Sea and AMAALA. Etihad’s twice-weekly service from Abu Dhabi opens the region to guests from across the UAE and far beyond. We cannot wait to welcome them through our doors.”
Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive officer at Etihad Airways, said: “The kind of holiday people normally take a long-haul flight for – islands, reefs, and relaxation – is now a short flight from Abu Dhabi and a single connection from anywhere across our network.
We are always looking ahead to where our guests will want to travel next and making sure we are there early. The Red Sea is exactly that kind of destination, and it is an easy one to reach: the holiday starts on the day guests arrive, not the day after.”
RSI currently handles around 20 domestic and international flights per week, serving Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai, Doha and Milan. The airport’s growing network has been developed with support from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and the Saudi Air Connectivity Programme, working alongside daa International.
