The golf carrier will return to Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Munich and Zurich in mid-July 2020, but the new destination Vienna will have to wait longer.
Etihad Airways had actually wanted to fly a Boeing 22-2020 several times a week between Vienna-Schwechat and Abu Dhabi since May 787, 9. But due to the tough entry regulations in Austria and the United Arab Emirates, the start was postponed first to June 2020 and then to July 2020. Now a new start date has been announced: October 25, 2020.
The golf carrier is currently planning to start the non-stop route between the two cities only at the beginning of the 2020/21 winter flight planning period. This postponement comes as little surprise, because the route is considered risky in the industry, because previously Niki was only able to achieve extremely modest booking figures between Vienna and Abu Dhabi vv despite Etihad codeshare. Ultimately, the lack of demand was the main reason why the route was abandoned. Etihad now wants to be more successful with its own aircraft, but due to the corona pandemic, the first flight had to be postponed several times.
In Germany, on the other hand, the planes of the state carrier of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi will soon be seen again. Connections to Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and Munich are to be resumed in mid-July 2020. Etihad Airways will then also be heading back to Switzerland. According to the airline's announcement, the Zurich flights are to be served first.