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The Journal · Abu Dhabi
Western Canada now has a nonstop line to the Gulf. Etihad's first flight from Abu Dhabi, EY29, landed in Calgary on Sunday, October 25, opening a four-times-weekly route on the Boeing 787-9 and an easy path to an Abu Dhabi stopover.
At a glance
First flight
Etihad Airways' inaugural EY29 arrived at Calgary International Airport on Sunday, October 25, 2026. Calgary is Etihad's second destination in Canada after Toronto and its westernmost Canadian gateway, and it gives Western Canada its first nonstop link with the Middle East.
Flights operate four times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. EY29 leaves Abu Dhabi at 2:25 a.m. and lands in Calgary at 7:00 a.m. the same day, after about 14 hours and 35 minutes. The return, EY30, leaves Calgary at 1:00 p.m. and reaches Abu Dhabi at 12:55 p.m. the next day. Times are local and can change, and Etihad has said the route could move to daily flights as demand grows.
The route uses the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with 303 seats in two cabins. Business Class has 32 fully flat seats in a 1-2-1 layout, so every passenger has direct aisle access, with privacy doors and 17.3-inch 4K screens. Economy has 271 seats in a 3-3-3 layout, with adjustable headrests, extra-legroom options and 13.3-inch screens.
Captain Majed Al Marzouqi, Etihad's Chief Operations and Guest Officer, described the launch as an important milestone in the airline's Canadian expansion, and Chief Executive Antonoaldo Neves called it an important step in the network's development. Calgary Airports, Tourism Calgary and Alberta's Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration all welcomed the service. Our guide to the best airlines in the region compares Etihad's cabins with its neighbors'.
A morning arrival in Abu Dhabi on the return flight is ideal for a stopover of two or three nights. Begin on Saadiyat Island, where the Louvre Abu Dhabi sits beside the beach; our Saadiyat guide lists its resorts. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is at its most serene in the soft light of late afternoon, and an evening on Yas Island can mean a theme park, the marina or dinner overlooking the Formula 1 circuit, all covered in our Yas Island guide.
Our Abu Dhabi guide brings together the finest hotels and things to do in Abu Dhabi, and our UAE travel guide covers entry for US passport holders, seasons and getting around.
For travelers in Western Canada and the northern United States, the new route means one fewer connection on the way to the Gulf, India and Asia. For Abu Dhabi, it is another long-haul link that brings visitors straight to the capital, at the start of its cooler, busiest season.
The timing suits the season, too. Abu Dhabi's cooler months, from November to March, are the time for long beach days on Saadiyat, desert evenings at Qasr Al Sarab and the big events of the winter calendar, which we described in our piece on events in Abu Dhabi.
Schedule at a glance
Departs 2:25 a.m., arrives 7:00 a.m. the same day; about 14 hours 35 minutes.
Departs 1:00 p.m., arrives 12:55 p.m. the next day; about 13 hours 55 minutes.
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Times are local and subject to change.
Boeing 787-9 with 32 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 layout and 271 Economy seats in a 3-3-3 layout.
Four times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, on a Boeing 787-9.
There are 32 fully flat seats in a 1-2-1 layout with direct aisle access, privacy doors and 17.3-inch 4K screens.
Toronto. Calgary is Etihad's second Canadian destination.
EY30 leaves Calgary at 1:00 p.m. and lands in Abu Dhabi at 12:55 p.m. the next day, local times, which leaves the afternoon free to settle in.
Checked on 10/26/2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.