Etihad Airways has launched the first nonstop service between Abu Dhabi and Calgary, with a sold-out Boeing 787-9 operating the inaugural EY29 flight to Calgary International Airport on 25 October 2026. The four-times-weekly route is Etihad’s second Canadian service after Toronto and its westernmost gateway, creating the first direct air link between Calgary and a Gulf city.
Flights operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. EY29 departs Abu Dhabi at 02:25 and arrives in Calgary at 07:00, while EY30 leaves Calgary at 13:00 and reaches Abu Dhabi at 12:55 the following day. The aircraft provides Business and Economy cabins.
The launch event at Calgary International Airport brought together representatives from the Alberta government, airport authorities and tourism organisations. The route removes the need for passengers travelling between Western Canada and Abu Dhabi to connect through another international airport, while providing onward connections via Abu Dhabi to destinations across the Gulf, India, Asia and Africa.
Etihad and its regional partners expect the service to support tourism, business travel, trade and investment between Alberta and the United Arab Emirates. The airline is also positioning Calgary as a gateway to Alberta and the Canadian Rockies, with the possibility of increasing the route to daily operations if demand supports the expansion.