Etihad Airways offers those with a transfer at Abu Dhabi International Airport a free layover in the city.
While Icelandair has been allowing travelers between North America and Europe to “lay over” in Reykjavik since the 1960s, the program really took off in the last decade as Iceland’s status as a popular tourist destination began to skyrocket.
Airlines such as Turkish Airways, Tap Air Portugal and Singapore Airlines (SINGF) they all followed suit and launched similar programs where one could add a few days in the airline’s country for free or at a greatly reduced price while traveling elsewhere.
Now Etihad Airways is expanding its popular stopover program in Abu Dhabi.
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In June 2022, the airline launched a scale programin which travelers with a transfer in Abu Dhabi could get a free stay in a budget hotel or a 40% discount in a four or five star one.
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The United Arab Emirates-based airline marketed it as a way to “unplug” from travel by visiting famous Abu Dhabi landmarks like the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Formula 1 track on Yas Island.
While this stopover was only a summer promotion, it was popular enough that Etihad brought it back again for the coming fall and winter.
“Whether you’re staying for a few hours or a few nights, you can choose from a variety of packages to stopover in Abu Dhabi between flights,” Etihad says in promotional materials for the programme.
“Stopover On Us” allows those with a transfer of between 12 and 24 hours to book a stay at Premier Inn Abu Dhabi International Airport or Premier Inn Abu Dhabi Capital Center for free, while travelers traveling to or from from China through the United Arab Emirates have an additional fee.package and hoteloption.
While the promotion starts now, travel must be booked no later than December 20 and completed by December 31.
Here’s why the stopover option is such a popular perk for travelers
Following the oil bonanza in the Middle East, the capital of the United Arab Emirates was built to be a playground for billionaires and as such is an expensive destination for the average traveler.
Etihad Airways is known for being one of the most luxurious airlines in the world, but in this case, it is positioning the promotion as a way to save yourself an extra trip. With the cost of airfare rising and expected to rise 7.8% for flights between North America and the Middle East by the end of 2023, the deal is particularly attractive to those already in the area.
There is also local interest because the stopover programs offered a significant boost to the tourism industry in countries like Iceland: The UAE has also been working to increase the flow of tourists after the pandemic.
“Whether you’re looking for a short city break or a longer beach retreat, a stopover in Abu Dhabi definitely won’t disappoint,” Etihad promises.
