New Etihad travel update asks US passengers to arrive four hours early
Expanded routes and partnerships boost travel options through Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI – Etihad has rolled out fresh travel guidance for passengers using Abu Dhabi as the airline moves to streamline airport procedures ahead of a busier travel period.
The latest customer advisory places stronger emphasis on advance planning, updated travel documents and earlier airport arrivals as the carrier prepares for increased summer traffic.
The Abu Dhabi-based airline is encouraging travellers to manage bookings online, keep contact details updated and review destination entry requirements before leaving home. It has also reminded passengers that check-in counters at Zayed International Airport open four hours before departure.
Economy passengers departing Abu Dhabi must complete check-in at least 60 minutes before departure, while Business and First Class counters close 45 minutes before scheduled take-off.
Airport rules
Special guidance has also been issued for travellers flying to the United States. Etihad is now advising passengers on US-bound flights to arrive at Zayed International Airport four hours before departure and report to the US Customs and Border Protection preclearance facility two hours before boarding.
Passengers travelling in Business, First and The Residence cabins can arrive at the facility 90 minutes before departure. Current airline guidance states the preclearance process applies to selected services from Abu Dhabi to New York, Washington, Boston and Chicago.
The airline is also urging passengers to prepare travel documents well before reaching the airport. Passports should carry at least six months of validity, while travellers with connecting journeys are advised to verify transit visa requirements at every stop.
First-time visitors are also being directed towards the UAE Fast Track app ahead of arrival procedures.
Support measures
Etihad has maintained disruption support for affected travellers after flight cancellations. Passengers holding Etihad tickets on cancelled flights can request refunds or rebook on Etihad-operated services free of charge up to June 15.
Travellers with itineraries containing two Etihad-operated sectors are automatically transferred to the next available service. Customers who booked through travel agents are being asked to contact their original booking source for modifications or refund processing.
Passengers requiring medical or mobility assistance are also being advised to submit requests at least 48 hours before travel through Etihad channels.
The updated airport procedures arrive as Etihad rapidly expands its network footprint. Airline figures show Etihad carried 22.4 million passengers in 2025, a 21 percent rise, while load factors reached 88.3 percent across a fleet of 127 aircraft.
Expansion plans continue through 2026. Flights to mainland China are increasing to 35 weekly services across six destinations, while six additional African routes are being introduced.
The carrier is also strengthening partnerships. A new codeshare agreement with Uzbekistan Airways will connect eight Uzbek cities through Tashkent, while Etihad’s daily Abu Dhabi-Tashkent service begins on August 9. Additional European traffic is also feeding into Abu Dhabi after Condor launched daily Frankfurt flights on May 1 and prepares to introduce daily Berlin services from June 15.
Etihad and DCT Abu Dhabi also recorded 25,000 stopover bookings and 44,000 visitors during the first four months of 2025, marking a 76 percent year-on-year increase.