Sky boom: Etihad makes Israel its top destination

Etihad Airways announced it will expand to six daily flights between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi starting June 15, making Israel the airline’s busiest destination worldwide with 42 weekly flights.

The dramatic expansion comes after soaring demand on the route, with more than 100,000 passengers flying between Israel and Abu Dhabi in the first three months of the year and planes operating at roughly 90% capacity.

Etihad said most Israeli travelers are using Abu Dhabi as a gateway to Asia, with sharp increases in demand for destinations including Tokyo, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines.

Abraham AccordsAbu DhabiaviationEtihadTel AvivUnited Arab Emirates