Etihad Airways has extended the seasonal run of its Abu Dhabi–Palma de Mallorca service, keeping the leisure route open several weeks longer than originally planned. Previously scheduled to end on 13 September 2026, the three-times-weekly operation has now been pushed back to 18 October 2026 in the carrier's latest schedule update.
The route is flown with the Airbus A321LR, a long-range single-aisle jet configured to carry 257 passengers. Flight EY115 departs Abu Dhabi at 02:45 and reaches Palma de Mallorca at 08:05, while the return EY116 leaves the Balearic island at 10:15 and arrives back in Abu Dhabi at 18:45.
Palma de Mallorca is one of the Mediterranean's premier summer holiday destinations, and the extension allows Etihad to capture demand deeper into the shoulder season, when warm-weather travel to the Balearics remains popular with visitors from the Gulf and beyond.
The A321LR has become an increasingly important tool for carriers looking to serve thinner or seasonal long-haul markets economically. Its extended range lets an operator open destinations that would once have required a widebody, while its narrow-body economics make lower-frequency seasonal flying more sustainable.
For Etihad, the aircraft supports a strategy of matching capacity closely to demand, deploying the right-sized jet on leisure routes rather than committing larger widebodies where they are not needed. The 257-seat layout offers a mix of premium and economy seating typical of the type.
The extension is a relatively small schedule change, but it underlines how carriers fine-tune seasonal networks in response to booking trends. Keeping Palma open into mid-October gives travellers additional weeks of direct service between Abu Dhabi and the island.
Passengers should verify the latest operating days and timings with the airline, as seasonal services can be adjusted ahead of departure.
Sources: AeroRoutes. Featured image: AI-generated by AviationShop. By Elena Vargas.
Comments
Loading comments…