Exclusive media breakfast with Etihad in Dublin

The Etihad Airways international team led by Alpna Matthews (Regional General Manager for the Americas, UK & Ireland), Jeremy Pollack (General Manager UK & Ireland), Jason Kearns (Account Manager-Corporate Ireland) and Shauna Fitzgerald (Account Manager-Leisure Ireland ) hosted a breakfast in the Dylan Hotel for a select number of travel media including Declan Mescall (Features Editor Travelbiz) to brief them on the airline’s ongoing commitment to the Irish market and its exciting global expansion. Also in attendance was Richard Smith (Country Manager UK & Ireland Abu Dhabi Tourism).

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, was formed in 2003 and quickly went on to become one of the world’s leading airlines. From its home in Abu Dhabi, Etihad flies to passenger destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Together with Etihad’s codeshare partners, Etihad’s network offers access to hundreds of international destinations. In recent years, Etihad has received numerous awards for its superior service and products, loyalty programme and more.

Etihad Airways continues to see remarkable growth, flying to nearly 90 passenger destinations and now operating a fleet of over 115 aircraft. In the past year alone, the airline has announced 31 new destinations, with further network expansion set to follow in the coming months in line with Etihad’s ambitious growth plans to reach over 125 destinations by 2030. This growth underlines Etihad’s position as one of the fastest-expanding global carriers, offering passengers more choice and connectivity than ever before.

Etihad has served the Irish market since 2007 and will begin operating double daily flights from Dublin to Abu Dhabi from 1 April 2026, up from the current 10 flights per week. These flights are being operated by both the airlines’ Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft; the two aircraft types are set to undergo an AED 3 billion fleet upgrade. The major cabin refurbishment programme from next year is designed to bring Irish guests an elevated in-flight experience with next-generation interiors and Etihad’s signature luxury service.

Year-to-date (October 2025), Etihad Airways has seen a 19% year-on-year growth in passenger numbers from Dublin. Passengers from Dublin represent a mixed balance of VFR, tour operator, and corporate travellers, all of which are performing strongly. The top five destinations for Irish customers include India, Abu Dhabi, Thailand, Japan and Australia. Bali and Colombo represent Etihad’s strongest growth markets from Ireland in 2025 compared to 2024. The airline is already seeing robust demand for its new 2025 route launches, with particularly strong interest in Hong Kong, Hanoi, Krabi, and Taipe.