Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways adds third...

Increased demand drives expansion to northern Italy’s stylish city

Etihad Airways is expanding operations to Milan with a third daily flight beginning 1 November 2025.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline says customer demand has driven the extra flight to the Italian fashion capital, with Etihad offering 12,600 seats per week between Abu Dhabi and Milan, up 115% year on year.

This move follows the airline’s recent introduction of twice-daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Rome to meet growing demand, representing a year-on-year capacity increase of 22%.

"With our morning, afternoon and evening departures from Abu Dhabi, our triple-daily Milan flights serve up perfect timings for guests travelling in both directions," said Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways.

Etihad has a promotion running until 29 January for flights between Abu Dhabi and Milan, with one-way fares starting at AED398 (US$108) as part of a return journey, for flights between 1 June and 30 November 2025.

The additional daily service will depart Zayed International Airport (AUH) at 09:10, arriving in Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) at 13:15. The return service will leave MXP at 15:10, landing in Abu Dhabi at 00:25 local time.

Flights currently depart Abu Dhabi at 02:45 and 14:25, with return flights from Milan leaving at 09:55 and 21:50, respectively.

Famed as a fashion capital, Milan attracts both business and leisure travellers, with highlights including the Duomo cathedral and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II luxury shopping district. Milan is also a centre for contemporary art and design, home to Leonardo Di Vinci’s The Last Supper, which is displayed within the church and UNESCO World Heritage Site Santa Maria delle Grazie.

The city has 17 Michelin-starred restaurants, including three-star Enrico Bartolini’s namesake restaurant at Milan’s MUDEC Museum.

Milan is among a handful of European cities gaining significant traction with Gulf travellers, according to recent data from Wego, a leading travel app in the MENA region.

Recent hotel openings include Casa Brera, a Luxury Collection Hotel, a 116-key luxury property located near Teatro alla Scala that celebrates Milanese art, design and food. Scheduled to open later this year, Six Senses Milan is situated in the artistic Brera quarter, and offers 68 guest rooms, 15 suites (two with plunge pools), a state-of-the-art spa, rooftop bar and a sky pool.

The new Abu Dhabi-Milan route will be served by the Boeing 777-300 and Etihad’s latest aircraft, the Airbus A321LR, filling the additional flight.

Since June 2024, low-cost carrier Wizz Air has also operated daily direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Milan.

For more information, visit www.etihad.com

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