Air Europa Begins Daily Abu Dhabi Flights for Etihad
As of June 24, 2025, Air Europa has launched daily operations on the Madrid-Barajas to Abu Dhabi route, marking its first scheduled service in the Middle East. The Spanish carrier is operating one of Etihad Airways’ two daily flights between the capitals under a wet-lease agreement, a move that signals a deepening partnership between the two airlines.
Under the agreement, Air Europa is flying Etihad’s EY103 service, which departs Abu Dhabi at 14:00 local time. The aircraft used is a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from Air Europa’s fleet, configured with 32 seats in Business Class and 307 in Economy. Although Etihad also uses Boeing 787-9s on its own Madrid routes, its version features a more spacious layout with 28 Business and 262 Economy seats, totaling 290.
This new operation represents a strategic milestone for Air Europa, which has until now focused heavily on transatlantic routes linking Spain with Latin America. By entering the Middle East market, even through a wet-lease arrangement, the airline broadens its global footprint and positions itself for greater international visibility.
The service also reflects the strong and growing travel demand between Spain and the United Arab Emirates. Both Air Europa and Etihad have previously partnered through a code-share arrangement covering flights between Abu Dhabi and Spain. The new wet-lease agreement builds on that foundation, with both airlines stating their intent to explore deeper collaboration going forward.
This development comes amid increasing competition in the Spain-UAE market. Just days before the Air Europa flight launch, Emirates announced on June 20 that it would add a third daily service between Barcelona and Dubai starting in October 2025. That route will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, underscoring the robust demand between the two countries.
For Etihad, the wet-lease arrangement offers operational flexibility and helps maintain network connectivity during fleet transitions or peak periods. For Air Europa, it provides access to a new market and a high-profile partnership with a Gulf carrier. The move may also support Air Europa’s ongoing efforts to attract strategic investment or forge deeper alliances as consolidation in the European aviation sector continues.
The daily Abu Dhabi service positions Air Europa alongside major global carriers operating in the Middle East while complementing Etihad’s long-haul network strategy. With the busy travel season underway and more airlines competing on high-demand routes, this partnership reflects a tactical response to evolving market dynamics.
As Air Europa integrates its aircraft and crew into a key Etihad route, both airlines benefit from expanded options for travelers between Europe and the Gulf, and potentially onward to Asia and Australia. The collaboration marks another step in the shift toward flexible partnerships across the global airline industry.
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