ABU DHABI, UAE / MENA Newswire / – Etihad Airways marked 20 years of flights to France, tracing the route’s start to its first Abu Dhabi to Paris service in June 2006. The airline said the service began with six flights a week. At the time, Etihad had operated for less than three years. Its network then covered about 34 destinations. Its fleet stood at 17 aircraft.
Etihad now connects Abu Dhabi and Paris with up to three daily flights. The carrier said its French network now covers two cities. It includes seasonal summer flights to and from Nice on the French Riviera. The added Nice service gives the airline a second French point during the summer travel period. Paris remains the main year-round link between the UAE capital and France.
The anniversary reflects growth across Etihad’s wider network. The airline said it now flies to 118 destinations across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. It operates a fleet of 124 aircraft. France remains part of its European network. The Paris route links travellers with Abu Dhabi and with onward flights across the airline’s global system.
France link expands
Etihad Airways said Abu Dhabi remains central to the France service. The city serves as the carrier’s home base and main hub. The airline promotes Abu Dhabi as both a destination and a transfer point. French travellers using the route can connect to leisure destinations including Bali, Phuket, the Maldives, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and the Seychelles.
The airline also linked the anniversary to its Abu Dhabi visitor offering. Eligible international guests flying to Abu Dhabi on Etihad receive complimentary medical travel insurance. The cover applies for up to 15 days in the UAE from July to December 2026, subject to terms and conditions. The airline also offers an Abu Dhabi Stopover programme with up to two complimentary hotel nights for eligible travellers.
Paris service grows
Etihad has continued to add capacity in Europe, including more frequencies on selected routes and new destinations in its wider network. The airline said its current Paris schedule reaches up to three daily flights. That level marks a major rise from the original six weekly services in 2006. The France milestone comes as the carrier reports a broader network of long-haul and regional routes.
The 20-year mark highlights the development of direct air links between Abu Dhabi and France. The service began as one route to Paris and now includes seasonal access to Nice. Etihad said flights between Paris and Abu Dhabi remain available for booking through its sales channels. The airline continues to position the route within its network linking France with the UAE and onward destinations.