Etihad Airways
Abu Dhabi's national airline, barred Iranian transit in March 2026 and cut Kuwait routes.
Last refreshed: 20 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Three airlines closed Iran's last air corridor; can Gulf aviation neutrality survive this war?
Timeline for Etihad Airways
Continued flying most of its network from Abu Dhabi
Iran Conflict 2026: Thirteen airlines book out to OctoberMentioned in: Kuwait's airport shuts as Gulf carriers retreat
Iran Conflict 2026UAE closes Iranian hospital, voids visas
Iran Conflict 2026Mentioned in: UAE Dismantles IRGC Networks on Its Soil
Iran Conflict 2026Background
Etihad Airways is the national airline of the UAE, headquartered in Abu Dhabi and founded in 2003. It serves as Abu Dhabi's flag carrier, operating a network of more than 70 destinations from its Abu Dhabi hub, and sits alongside Emirates and FlyDubai as one of the three major UAE-owned carriers.
In March 2026, Etihad joined Emirates and FlyDubai in barring all Iranian nationals from entering or transiting the UAE . The coordinated ban across all three major UAE carriers closed Iran's last significant civilian air corridor. Golden Visa holders were initially exempted, though subsequent reports indicated even Golden Visas were being cancelled for Iranians outside the country. Abu Dhabi, home to Etihad's hub, hosts significant US military infrastructure including access to Al Dhafra Air Base and has absorbed hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks since hostilities began.
The mid-June Ceasefire eased regional flight disruption briefly, but its collapse and the resumption of Iranian strikes on Gulf airports brought Etihad back into the disruption. It cut its Kuwait services on 19-20 July 2026 alongside Emirates, FlyDubai and Air Arabia after Kuwait International Airport suspended flights following missile and drone attacks .
