Etihad Airways leases American Airlines slots at London Heathrow Airport

etihad airways
Won additional daily slots with london heathrow airport
Due to a lease agreement with american airlines
This will allow the UAE airline to increase its services on this important route to five flights a day.

slot lease contract

Etihad Airways will be able to operate additional daily flights EY703/704 during the following periods: abu dhabi international airport
The flight arrived at London Heathrow Airport because of a slot lease agreement with American Airlines, according to a document from Airport Coordination Limited, the organization responsible for coordinating slot restrictions at various airports.

This new service will run from March 30 to October 25, 2025, with the possibility of extension. This slot pair was previously owned by American Airlines and was used for flights to and from Heathrow. philadelphia international airport
(PHL) as well as Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
(DFW).

Etihad Airways plans to use A321

According to the slot swap request form, Etihad Airways will offer this fifth daily service to Airbus A321
The aircraft marks a departure from current widebody operations on this route. The planned A321 will feature a 196-passenger configuration, suggesting the airline intends to introduce regional aircraft variants on this prestigious route.

Reservations for these additional flights are not yet accepted. According to Cirium, Etihad currently operates 28 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Heathrow. This includes:

The other airline, British Airways, currently operates either flight daily. boeing 787-8
Flightradar 24 data shows B787-9 between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow.

A321LR delivery is coming soon

The increased demand for travel between the UAE and the UK is reflected in Etihad Airways’ expansion. The addition of five daily flights will give passengers more options for connections between Abu Dhabi and London.

Etihad Airways’ position as the top airline on the Abu Dhabi-London route will be further strengthened by the additional daily services enabled by the leased slots. This aircraft choice is particularly noteworthy given that Etihad Airways currently only uses widebody combinations of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A380 superjumbo jets on its four daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Heathrow.

Additionally, Etihad Airways is receiving more advanced services. Airbus A321LR
The variant features a more comfortable cabin with 160 seats, including 14 lie-flat business class seats, 144 economy seats and two first class suites. These new A321LRs are designed for lower passenger numbers and slightly longer routes and, once in service, may be better suited for these high-capacity routes. The first A321LR is scheduled to be delivered this year. New jet’s first European route will be from Abu Dhabi copenhagen airport
The airline announced last year that it would start flying to Düsseldorf from October.

heathrow airport slots

Slot leasing is common at “slot-managed” airports such as Heathrow. This means that airlines must own or lease the rights to specific takeoff and landing slot pairs. The process of acquiring a slot, especially at busy airports, can be incredibly expensive, with prices reaching tens of millions of dollars. Leasing provides a way for airlines to make the most of scarce slots, allowing them to temporarily expand service without the long-term investment of acquiring new slots.

In December 2023, the UK government published a consultation paper outlining its intention to reform the country’s airport slot regulations. The document, published by the Department of Transport, proposes changes aimed at promoting a competitive market for airport slots and establishing clearer guidelines for allocating new slots. In its reform plan, the government is considering reviewing the current rules for using slots. However, in response to the consultation, London Heathrow Airport issued a statement calling on the UK Government to ensure consistency for passengers.