On November 4, Etihad Airways — one of “Middle East’s most low-key luxury carrier” — marked the resumption of its long-suspended Abu Dhabi–Hong Kong route as flight EY870, shimmering in golden livery, touched down smoothly at Hong Kong International Airport.
To capture market share, Etihad has demonstrated strong commitment with this relaunch, aligning both aircraft deployment and pricing with consumer demand:
* The route operates five times weekly, using the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Etihad’s flagship wide-body aircraft, offering premium Business Class seating and an enhanced Economy Class experience.
From OTA ticket data, Etihad is offering aggressively low nonstop fares, undercutting many one-stop options. For example, on November 27, one-way Economy Class fares from Hong Kong to Abu Dhabi start from RMB 2,190 (about USD 310).
The inaugural flight was nearly fully booked, underscoring strong market demand.
In a recent interview with TravelDaily, Etihad’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Customer Officer, Majed Al Marzouqi, said: “Hong Kong is an extremely important market for us. We know this market well, we operated here before and this resumption is part of our 2030 growth strategy.”
He emphasized that as a global aviation hub with world-class airport infrastructure, Hong Kong offers transfer advantages that complement Abu Dhabi perfectly. With Chinese outbound travel rebounding strongly — particularly demand for Europe via Hong Kong — Etihad’s network strength in Europe, where many major cities are served with two or even three daily flights, provides travelers with a wide range of options.
