Etihad Airways leases American Airlines' London Heathrow slot for summer 2025

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Etihad Airways leases American Airlines' London Heathrow slot for summer 2025

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Airbus A380 | Airbus

By Sky Industry News

Jan 13, 2025

Etihad Airways has secured an additional daily slot at London Heathrow Airport for the summer 2025 season. This development comes through a leasing agreement with American Airlines, allowing Etihad to increase its service to five daily flights on the Abu Dhabi-London route.

The arrangement permits Etihad to operate an extra daily flight, designated as EY703/704, between Abu Dhabi International Airport and London Heathrow. The slot lease was confirmed by Airport Coordination Ltd, which manages slot restrictions at various airports. The new service is scheduled from March 30 to October 25, 2025, with potential for extension. Previously, this slot pair was utilized by American Airlines for flights connecting Heathrow with Philadelphia International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

For this additional service, Etihad plans to use an Airbus A321 aircraft. This choice marks a shift from its usual widebody operations on the route. The A321 will be configured to carry 196 passengers and suggests that Etihad will deploy its regional fleet variant on this significant route.

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Currently, bookings for these new flights are not open. As of now, Etihad operates 28 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Heathrow using a mix of Airbus A380s and Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

The expansion in operations reflects increased travel demand between the UAE and the UK. It also reinforces Etihad's position as a leading airline on the Abu Dhabi-London route. Presently, British Airways offers daily services using Boeing 787-8 or B787-9 aircraft between these destinations.

In addition to this development, Etihad is set to receive the more advanced Airbus A321LR variant soon. This model features a cabin configuration with Business Class seats that fully recline into beds, Economy seating, and First Class suites designed for slightly longer routes with fewer passengers.

Slot leasing is common at congested airports like Heathrow where airlines must own or lease slots for takeoff and landing rights. Leasing provides airlines an opportunity to temporarily expand their services without investing in acquiring new slots permanently.

In December 2023, the UK government released a consultation paper proposing reforms in airport slot regulations aimed at fostering competition and clarity in slot allocation processes. In response, London Heathrow Airport called for consistency in passenger experience amidst any regulatory changes.