As Trump Visited UAE, Etihad Asked Charlotte Airport: ‘You Want Flights?”

President Trump’s visit to Abu Dhabi last week prompted Etihad Airways to reach out to Charlotte Douglas International Airport to say it wanted to served Charlotte.

The call to the airport was made Wednesday. It was the first time the airport heard of the airline’s interest. On Thursday, Trump visited Abu Dhabi. On Friday morning, Etihad announced that it intends to fly the Boeing 787 between its Abu Dhabi hub and Charlotte four times weekly starting May 4, 2026. Tickets went on sale Friday.

The flight represents milestones for Charlotte, including the first non-stop service to Asia and the first scheduled 787 service. Additionally, at around 14 hours and 7,400 miles, the flight will be the longest non-stop in Charlotte history, eclipsing the 4,669-mile Honolulu flight briefly operated by US Airways.

“It’s a good day to make the announcement,” Adria Rabassa, Etihad director of network and scheduling, said in an interview at the airport on Friday. He noted that Trump visited Abu Dhabi. Concurrently, the White House announced that Etihad had committed to spend $14.5 billion to buy 28 Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft powered by GE engines.

Etihad has “been looking at Charlotte for a few months,” Rabassa said. “We were looking at the aircraft. It was a nice time to put it together. “

Charlotte will become the carrier’s sixth U.S. destination, joining Boston, Chicago, New York, Washington and Atlanta, where service starts July 2. Etihad will take delivery of four or five 787s this year.

Notably, among Mideast competitors Emirates, Etihad and Qatar, the three middle east airlines, Etihad will be the only one with non-stops to either Atlanta or Charlotte, the two principal airports in the Southeast.

In Atlanta, Etihad has no formal relationship with hub carrier Delta. As for American, an existing agreement allows American passengers to earn and redeem miles on Etihad flights, but the two carriers do not code share and American passengers cannot earn “Loyalty Points,” which determine their status. In fact, Etihad is not a member of any of the three global alliances.

“We’re very comfortable in our own skin,” Rabassa said. “We do what is right for our airline.”

Ted Kaplan, Charlotte airport’s chief business and innovation officer, said the airport responded quickly and affirmatively when Etihad called. “This is the best kind of project for us to work on,” he said. Accommodating new service, especially international service, can be a challenge even though the airport has 123 gates.

American, which carries 90% of the passengers, has expanded rapidly in recent years. It currently operates 690 daily departures, making Charlotte the world’s third largest single airline hub.

An advantage for the planned Etihad flight is that in Abu Dhabi, passengers can secure U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance at Zayed International Airport, enabling them to arrive in Charlotte as domestic passengers.

At its Abu Dhabi hub, Etihad operates about 200 daily departures. The hub is particularly attractive to passengers bound for India and other Asian destinations. Also, on April 28, China Eastern Airlines began Shanghai-Abu Dhabi service. Etihad and China Eastern have a joint venture that enables them to coordinate flights, share revenues and offer reciprocal frequent flier benefits.

The call to the airport was made Wednesday. It was the first time the airport heard of the airline’s interest. On Thursday, Trump visited Abu Dhabi. On Friday morning, Etihad announced that it intends to fly the Boeing 787 between its Abu Dhabi hub and Charlotte four times weekly starting May 4, 2026. Charlotte tickets went on sale Friday.

The flight represents milestones for Charlotte, including the first non-stop service to Asia and the first scheduled 787 service. Additionally, at around 14 hours and 7,400 miles, the flight will be the longest non-stop in Charlotte history, eclipsing the 4,669-mile Honolulu flight briefly operated by US Airways.

“It’s a good day to make the announcement,” Adria Rabassa, Etihad director of network and scheduling, said in an interview at the airport on Friday. He noted that Trump had just visited Abu Dhabi. Additionally, the White House announced that Etihad had committed to spend $14.5 billion to buy 28 Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft powered by GE engines.

Etihad has “been looking at Charlotte for a few months,” Rabassa said. “We were looking at the aircraft. It was a nice time to put it together. “

Charlotte will become the carrier’s sixth U.S. destination, joining Boston, Chicago, New York, Washington and Atlanta, where service starts July 2. Etihad will take delivery of four or five 787s this year.

Notably, among Mideast competitors Emirates, Etihad and Qatar, the three middle east airlines, Etihad will be the only one with non-stops to either Atlanta or Charlotte, the two principal airports in the Southeast.

In Atlanta, Etihad has no formal relationship with hub carrier Delta. As for American, an existing agreement allows American passengers to earn and redeem miles on Etihad flights, but the two carriers do not code share and American passengers cannot earn “Loyalty Points,” which determine their status. In fact, Etihad is not a member of any of the three global alliances.

“We’re very comfortable in our own skin,” Rabassa said. “We do what is right for our airline.”

Ted Kaplan, Charlotte airport’s chief business and innovation officer, said the airport responded quickly and affirmatively when Etihad called. “This is the best kind of project for us to work on,” he said. Airport communications staff rushed to put together a media event Friday morning.

Accommodating new service, especially international service, can be a challenge even though the airport has 123 gates. American, which carries 90% of the passengers, has expanded rapidly in recent years. It currently operates 690 daily departures, making Charlotte the world’s third largest single airline hub.

An advantage for the planned Etihad flight is that in Abu Dhabi, passengers can secure U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance at Zayed International Airport, enabling them to arrive in Charlotte as domestic passengers.

At its Abu Dhabi hub, Etihad operates about 200 daily departures. The hub is particularly attractive to passengers bound for India and other Asian destinations. Also, on April 28, China Eastern Airlines began Shanghai-Abu Dhabi service. Etihad and China Eastern have a joint venture that enables them to coordinate flights, share revenues and offer reciprocal frequent flier benefits.