On Tuesday, Etihad Airways announced the start of a direct connection from Vienna to Abu Dhabi after several postponements. In terms of aviation law, it is actually a so-called direct flight, because a stop is made in Milan-Malpensa with the same flight number on the way to the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

The terms “direct flight” and “non-stop flight” are repeatedly confused or even equated. Only a non-stop flight is a connection from A to B, which is carried out without a stopover. A direct flight also leads from A to B, but can have any number of stopovers with the same flight number. Particularly in travel catalogs, you should be careful with charter flights to less frequented holiday destinations, because the word “direct flight” is often used, but there is no reference to possible stopovers. However, there can be any number.

Etihad Airways will fly non-stop from Abu Dhabi to Vienna, but will make a stopover in Milan-Malpensa on the return flight. The duration of the stay at the Italian airport is 85 minutes according to the flight schedule. Formally, the entire triangle is operated as a "direct flight", because the routing Abu Dhabi-Vienna-Malpensa-Abu Dhabi is offered under the same flight number.

Significantly longer travel time - no point-to-point transport between Vienna and Milan

Travelers should note that the travel time between Abu Dhabi and Vienna at 5 hours 50 minutes is significantly shorter than from Vienna via Milan-Malpensa to Abu Dhabi. The flight time from Austria to the Italian metropolis is given as 1,5 hours. This is followed by an 85-minute stay. The flight time from Milan to the capital of the United Arab Emirates is 5 hours and 55 minutes. So the bottom line: 8 hours and around 50 minutes.

Whether Etihad Airways will offer real non-stop flights in both directions at a later date is still completely open. First you fly two "triangles" a week and obviously evaluate the demand on the new connection.

Another curious fact is that Etihad Airways currently does not allow bookings between Abu Dhabi and Milan-Malpensa via Vienna. In the absence of the rights of Fifth Freedom, no tickets can be booked between the Austrian capital and the Italian metropolis.