It is unusual for an airline to remove a route before the first flight, but it does happen. The latest example involves 
Etihad Airways, which has now pulled its service from Abu Dhabi to Algiers. It was among the first Airbus A321LR-operated links announced by the carrier.
A source has expressed to me more than once that this route to the Algerian capital would not work and would be pulled. So it has proved. The exact reason for the culling is unknown. It is unclear if it relates to insufficient demand, inadequate bookings, a regulatory problem, delivery delays, the wrong configuration for the route, etc. The airline has been contacted for comment.
Gone: Etihad From Abu Dhabi To Algiers
The route to Algiers was originally to begin on November 7, with a four-weekly operation on Etihad’s 160-seat A321LRs. With 11,000 round-trip point-to-point passengers, the Algerian capital was the largest unserved African market from Abu Dhabi. But it was still tiny, and even smaller than the existing demand between Dublin and Pittsburgh, a route that Aer Lingus will begin next year.
In mid-November, Etihad revealed that the route—its fifth-longest LR link by distance—would be postponed “due to reasons beyond our control.” As such, the first flight was pushed back to February 2, with the same four-weekly service scheduled.
All future Algiers have been removed. The route is no longer bookable. It had been announced at the same time as Abu Dhabi-Tunis, which began on November 1. Due to similar distances, Tunis is served on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Algiers was to operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, with a near-identical schedule. It is unknown what will replace it.
|
Abu Dhabi To Algiers; Local Times* |
Algiers To Abu Dhabi; Local Times** |
|---|---|
|
2:30 am-7:15 am (7h 45m)^ |
10:05 am-7:20 pm (6h 15m) |
|
* In February. Shown in Simple Flying’s new time format ^ Some flights are timed at 7h 50m |
** In February. Shown in Simple Flying’s new time format |
So, Where Will Etihad Fly The A321LR?
Let’s look ahead to Q2-Q3 2026 (April to September). While subject to change, the latest information indicates that Etihad now plans 19 routes on its LRs. They include Krabi, which welcomed the airline and the equipment in October. Fellow UAE operator Air Arabia launched Sharjah-Krabi flights in late November. Passengers from its upcoming new Gatwick flights will connect to the Thai destination.
Focusing on Q2 to Q3 means Amsterdam, which will see Etihad’s LRs in February and March, is omitted. Unless, of course, the carrier manages to secure additional summer slots at the famously slot-constrained airport, which is unlikely.
With a double daily operation throughout this period, Abu Dhabi to Zurich and Phuket are the carrier’s joint most-served LR destinations. They account for 29% of the variant’s flights. However, Düsseldorf will have double daily narrowbody flights in September. In all, Etihad plans up to 19 daily LR departures from Abu Dhabi in the examined half-year. It’ll account for more than one in 12 of its takeoffs.
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A Quick Look At Etihad’s LRs
According to ch-aviation, Etihad currently has nine LRs. When writing, the most recent aircraft to arrive was A6-LRH, which Flightradar24 shows touched down in the UAE on November 25 and entered revenue service two days later. It was one of three frames to be delivered in November.
All of its LRs have 160 seats in the same configuration. There are two first-class suites with a fully flat bed, a first for Etihad’s single-aisle equipment; 14 seats in business seats with a fully flat bed, a notable improvement over that cabin on its other single-aisle equipment (1-1); and 144 seats in economy (3-3; 30″ to 34″ pitch).
