Growing Italian demand adds momentum to Abu Dhabi's visitor economy

14 May 2025 18:11
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Etihad Airways is experiencing significant growth in travel demand between Italy and Abu Dhabi. This increase is bolstering Abu Dhabi's tourism ambitions and strengthening broader commercial and cultural ties between Italy and the UAE.Jurriaan Stelder, Senior Vice President of Network, Alliances, and Industry Affairs at Etihad Airways, stated, "The consistent growth we're seeing from the Italian market highlights Abu Dhabi's appeal as both a destination and a global hub. Italian travelers are responding well to our offerings, with steady demand across both leisure and business segments. This connectivity is enhancing tourism and fostering deeper ties in trade, culture, and investment."Italy has quickly become one of Etihad's fastest-growing European markets, with travel between Italy and Abu Dhabi increasing by 76% compared to 2023. This surge reflects the growing attraction of Abu Dhabi as a destination for Italian visitors.In response to this sustained demand, Etihad has decided to increase flight frequencies, offering triple-daily flights between Milan Malpensa Airport and Abu Dhabi, along with double-daily flights from Rome Fiumicino Airport. This expansion provides Italian travelers with convenient options for visiting Abu Dhabi.The additional daily flight from Milan will be operated by Etihad's new Airbus aircraft, which offers a premium experience that includes a dedicated first-class cabin, fully lie-flat business seats, high-speed Wi-Fi, and an enhanced onboard dining service. This aircraft brings Etihad's signature long-haul comfort to short- and medium-haul travel, further elevating the experience for Italian guests.Starting in November, Etihad will provide more than 10,000 weekly seats in each direction between Italy and Abu Dhabi, representing an 80% capacity increase compared to November 2023. The number of premium seats available will double to over 1,000 per week to meet the rising demand in this segment.The airline continues to strengthen its presence in Italy through strategic partnerships. Working with ITA Airways and Trenitalia, travelers can connect to Etihad flights from Rome and Milan from 14 domestic airports and 31 railway stations across Italy. This builds on the successful codeshare partnership with ITA Airways established in December 2021, enabling enhanced connectivity between the UAE and Italy.Italian travelers are also embracing Etihad's Abu Dhabi Stopover program, which offers complimentary hotel stays for up to two nights, allowing visitors to explore Abu Dhabi's cultural attractions, pristine beaches, and world-class entertainment venues. Stopover bookings from the Italian market have increased by 92% since 2024.As demand from the Italian market continues to grow, Etihad is well-positioned to accommodate the rising number of passengers with its current schedule.
"The solid performance of our routes to Italy reflects Abu Dhabi's status as both a destination for Italian travellers and a convenient global hub," said Stelder. "This growth supports tourism while building long-term value through deeper ties with one of our most important European markets."

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