Etihad Ends A380 Flights to New York to Deploy it on This Destination

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ABU DHABI- Etihad Airways (EY) has ended Airbus A380 flights to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) as of June 23, 2025. The superjumbo service is now replaced with the Airbus A350-1000, which lacks first-class offerings but features Etihad’s latest business class.

The next day, June 24, Etihad launched daily A380 operations from Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), marking the aircraft’s debut in Canadian skies.

Etihad A380 to Toronto

Etihad Airways (EY) introduced the A380 on the Abu Dhabi–Toronto route to meet increasing demand across business, leisure, and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) segments.

The move signals the airline’s intensified focus on the Canadian market, where it first began operations in 2005. This decision also consolidates capacity as the airline prepares to expand into the U.S. South with upcoming services to Atlanta (ATL) and Charlotte (CLT), Simple Flying reported.

The shift away from JFK—previously served by A380s since 2015—is seen as part of Etihad’s broader fleet optimization strategy. The Airbus A350-1000 now serving JFK has fewer seats and does not include first class or The Residence, a hallmark of the A380.

Toronto now benefits from the world’s only flying three-room suite, The Residence, and Etihad’s award-winning First Apartments. With this move, Canada becomes the first country in the world outside the UAE to host Etihad’s A380 featuring The Residence on a daily basis.

A380 Deployment

Etihad’s daily A380 service to Toronto introduces a 31% increase in seat capacity, with 486 seats configured across four classes:

The Residence: A private three-room suite with a living room, bedroom, and en-suite shower
First Apartments: 9 fully enclosed first-class suites with an 80-inch lie-flat bed
Business Studios: 70 lie-flat seats with aisle access and exclusive lounge access in The Lobby
Economy Smart Seats: 405 economy seats, including 68 extra legroom options

The inaugural flight to Toronto on June 24 was operated by aircraft A6-APD, a 10.4-year-old A380 that returned to service in May 2025 after storage.

Etihad marked the milestone arrival in Toronto with a ceremonial water-cannon salute at YYZ, reinforcing the significance of the upgraded service in the airline’s North American strategy.

North American Expansion Continues

Following the redeployment of the A380 to Toronto, Etihad is preparing for further growth in the region.

On July 2, it will inaugurate a new service to Atlanta (ATL), which will become its longest route by distance. Next May, flights to Charlotte (CLT) will begin, offering the first direct Middle East link to North Carolina.

These expansions are strategically timed. According to O&D passenger data from May 2024 to April 2025:

Atlanta saw ~240,000 passengers traveling to/from India
Charlotte recorded ~110,000 (180,000 if Raleigh/Durham is included)

This underscores Etihad’s strong India–US connecting traffic, with its AUH hub playing a central role.

Etihad currently operates seven active Airbus A380s: A6-APD, APE, APF, APG, APH, API, and APJ. Three frames—A6-APA, APB, and APC—are confirmed as retired. The reactivation of the A380s is targeted and selective, aligned with premium demand on high-yield routes such as Toronto.

The airline also continues to promote Abu Dhabi stopovers for passengers traveling between Canada and the UAE. These packages offer complimentary hotel stays and exposure to Abu Dhabi’s top attractions, creating a value-added travel experience for premium and economy passengers alike.

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