Etihad Airways opened today the bookings for flights to Medan, the gateway to North Sumatra, Indonesia. The airline will start flights between Kualanamu International Airport (KNO), Medan, and Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi (AUH) on October 2, 2025.
Etihad will fly to and from Medan on one of its new A321LR aircraft three times a week. The destination is just one of 14 already announced by Etihad this year, with more expected to come.
New destinations for 2025
Last year, Etihad Airways announced the launch of 10 new destinations for 2025 in one day, including Medan. The 10 new routes will complement Etihad Airways’ previously revealed destinations for 2025: Prague, Warsaw, and Al Alamein
The destinations include:
- Algiers: Four weekly flights to and from the capital of Algeria.
- Atlanta: Four flights per week to and from the state capital of Georgia.
- Chiang Mai: Four weekly flights to and from Northern Thailand
- Hanoi: Daily flights to and from the capital of Vietnam.
- Hong Kong: Five weekly flights to and from the special administrative region in China.
- Krabi: Daily flights to and from Southern Thailand.
- Phnom Penh: Five weekly flights to and from the Capital of Cambodia.
- Taipei:Â Daily flights to and from Northern Taiwan.
- Tunis: Three weekly flights to and from the vibrant capital of Tunisia.
Etihad’s expansion will bring tens of thousands of new visitors directly to Abu Dhabi, boosting its position as a premier destination for leisure, business, and cultural tourism. The move also aligns with the UAE capital’s efforts to attract international travelers and reinforces its reputation as a hub of connectivity, innovation and hospitality.
Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad’s CEO, previously noted that 2025 will mark a pivotal year for Etihad Airways, with more than 90 destinations in over 50 countries, and a fleet of more than 110 aircraft, including the new A321LRs, welcoming over 20 million guests onboard. Most importantly, the expansion will also support the airline in bringing over a million visitors to Abu Dhabi.
Read: Dubai Aerospace Enterprise inks $1 billion agreements to acquire 17 aircraft
Etihad Airways welcomes 1.6 million passengers in February
Earlier this week, Etihad Airways celebrated the arrival of 1.6 million guests during February 2025, achieving a remarkable average passenger load factor of 89 percent. The airline reported that passenger traffic in the first two months of this year rose to 3.3 million, compared to 2.9 million during the same timeframe last year.
“Our passenger numbers in February saw a strong 14 percent growth compared to the same period last year, as we continue to be among the world’s fastest-growing airlines. As our capacity continues to grow, it is pleasing to see we maintained our robust passenger load factor of 89 percent year-to-date, as we prepare for a busy 2025 with the launch of 14 new routes,” stated Neves.
Neves mentioned that the airline’s ongoing expansion is driven by the growth of its operating fleet, which is approaching three figures, with additional deliveries anticipated throughout 2025. In January 2025, Etihad Airways welcomed 1.7 million guests, marking an 18 percent increase compared to the same period last year, with a passenger load factor of 89 percent, in contrast to 86 percent for January 2024.
