Etihad Airways started weekly flight service to Chicago from its home base in Abu Dhabi on flight EY151 on 2 September 2009.  The flight landed 14 hours later at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Etihad Airways is the national airline for the United Arab Emirates.    Chicago is Etihad’s third destination in North America following Toronto and New York, bringing to 55 the total number of international destinations it serves.

Etihad Airways chief executive James Hogan said “Chicago is set to become a key part of our global flight programme with strong traffic expected from cities across our Middle Eastern and Sub Continent network. Hogan said Etihad’s new fleet of fuel efficient aircraft will allow them to start service to ultra long haul destinations like Chicago while providing the most luxurious service to customers in all three cabins.  US ambassador to the UAE said launch of the new flights shows the strong and expanding commercial ties that Emirates and Americans share.