Boa notícia: a cia. árabe começará a voar entre Lisboa e Abu Dhabi partir do segundo semestre de 2023.

Saiu no site oficial da empresa árabe (em inglês):

“Etihad Airways is expanding its European network this summer with the introduction of a new direct service between Abu Dhabi and Lisbon, effective from 2 July 2023.

The airline will be connecting Abu Dhabi to Portugal’s capital city right in time for the summer holidays, with three weekly flights scheduled to be operated on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays.

“We’re excited to introduce flights to Portugal for the first time and provide our guests with convenient travel options to one of the most popular summer destinations for 2023,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways.

“As one of the oldest cities in Western Europe, the coastal city of Lisbon is a great entry-point to exploring the rest of the country, with perfect beaches, historic castles, fantastic nightlife and a warm and welcoming people.

“Our new direct connection will enhance the trade and tourism ties between the UAE and Portugal, and we are grateful for the support of the Portuguese authorities in establishing our new air link.”

Summer flights to Malaga and Mykonos

As well as introducing flights to Lisbon, Etihad Airways will be returning to Málaga on the Spanish Costa del Sol and the popular Greek island of Mykonos this summer.

Etihad Airways will be flying to Málaga twice-per-week, on Wednesdays and Sundays, from 18 June 2023. Lying on a wide bay with stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and one of the most visited coastal cities in Spain, Málaga is famous for its miles-long sandy beaches, culture and food.

Travellers can also look forward to Etihad Airways launching flights to Mykonos, lying in the deep blue waters of the Aegean sea, with twice-per-week services on Mondays and Fridays from 16 June 2023. With world-class beaches, restaurants and entertainment, as well as plenty of opportunities to discover ancient Greek history, the island is one of the hottest summer spots in Europe.

With the addition of new routes to Lisbon, Malaga and Mykonos, Etihad Airways will be offering travellers nearly 160 weekly flights to 21 destinations in Europe this summer, with 20% more seats available than in 2022.

Tickets to all three new destinations are now available to book on etihad.com”.

Conclusão

Trata-se de uma ótima oportunidade de resgatar as milhas AAdvantage em voos Etihad, mas com voos diretos.

Fiz uma pesquisa rápida aqui e ainda não encontrei voos diretos no inventário do AAdvantage, o resultado melhorzinho apontava duas conexões e 14h25min de tempo total de viagem one way:

Com o lançamento da rota, será possível voar entre os dois destinos por um tempo de aproximadamente 7h30min a 8h20m, em voos diretos.

Por 20 mil milhas AAdvantage one way por passageiro em classe econômica, a viagem passa a ter um custo/benefício muito interessante.

Isso facilitará não só as viagens de Lisboa ao destino no Oriente Médio, mas também as conexões com países da Ásia e Oceania, aproveitando o vasto hub de Abu Dhabi que se conecta com esses continentes.