Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emriates: Etihad Airways is turning a flight booking into the start of a wider trip. At Arabian Travel Market 2026 in Dubai, the airline unveiled Etihad Escapes, a new platform launching in October that will let guests add hotels to their flights on Etihad.com, then progressively expand to full flight‑and‑hotel search, app integration, Etihad Guest loyalty tie‑ins and more travel services through 2027.
The move targets the fast‑growing global holiday market — worth about US$2.7 trillion and forecast to rise 6.5% to 2030 — by capturing more of the spend that happens beyond the flight. Etihad says the platform will simplify planning, deepen guest relationships and support Abu Dhabi’s tourism goals of 39.3 million visitors and AED 90 billion in tourism GDP by 2030.
At launch, travelers with an Etihad flight can append accommodation in one flow; later phases will allow independent hotel search and combined bookings, plus richer personalization and ancillary services. The hotel inventory is powered by Expedia Group B2B, with Juniper Travel Technology supporting the infrastructure, and Miral Destinations joining as a launch partner to bundle Abu Dhabi experiences.
In parallel, Etihad Airways and Etihad Rail signed a memorandum of understanding to explore integrated air‑rail journeys across the UAE, including better links between Zayed International Airport and the Mohammed Bin Zayed City Passenger Station, potential shuttle services, and eventually unified booking and station‑based services. The partnership aims to make it easier to reach destinations across the UAE, boost tourism and support sustainable, multimodal transport as passenger rail services expand.
Together, Etihad Escapes and the air‑rail initiative position Etihad as more than an airline: a digital‑first travel ecosystem that connects flights, stays, ground transport and experiences — starting in October and scaling through 2027.
