Etihad Cancels ETD9735 from Abu Dhabi to Shanghai, Oct 21, 2025

(ABU DHABI, UAE) Etihad Airways cancelled Flight ETD9735 from Abu Dhabi to Shanghai on October 21, 2025, halting the 2:35 p.m. departure amid a wider suspension of Etihad’s own service on the route this year. The carrier advised passengers to seek rebooking or refunds, and pointed to its partnership with China Eastern Airlines as the continuing way to travel nonstop between Abu Dhabi and Shanghai.

The airline’s schedule change follows an April 2025 shift in which China Eastern took over regular operations on the Abu Dhabi–Shanghai corridor, and Etihad removed its own flights for the remainder of 2025. The cancellation of Flight ETD9735 fits that pattern: since April 28, 2025, China Eastern has been operating the route while Etihad gradually pulled its flights from future schedules. By May 15, 2025, Etihad had removed remaining Abu Dhabi–Shanghai services for the rest of the year, keeping a presence in the Shanghai market through its joint venture rather than direct Etihad-operated flights.

For travelers, that means most nonstop options will appear as China Eastern, even when booked through Etihad.

Immediate steps for affected passengers

Etihad’s immediate message to customers booked on Flight ETD9735 is simple: check your booking, choose a new option if you still plan to travel, or request a refund.

• Rebooking: Etihad will assist in moving travelers to a new itinerary. This may include China Eastern flights on the Abu Dhabi–Shanghai route if space is available.
• Refunds: If you decide not to travel, you can request a refund or Etihad Credit. Requests can be made online or through the original booking source. Start at Manage Booking.
• Care and compensation: Depending on circumstances and local rules, Etihad may cover meals, hotels, or offer compensation when flights are cancelled. Eligibility depends on the facts of each case and the governing regulations.

If you used a travel agent, Etihad asks you to contact the agent for rebooking and refund processing. If you booked directly with the airline, customer service can help if online tools don’t provide the solution you need.

Passengers on the October 21 flight should also double-check any onward travel from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, especially if separate tickets are involved. Seats on partner flights can fill quickly after a cancellation, so acting early gives you more choice on timing and connections.

Travel and immigration implications for China-bound passengers

While this is an airline schedule decision, it affects people with time-sensitive travel to China — students, workers, and family members may face delays of a day or more if their first-choice flights are full. That matters when entry documents, medical exams, or employer reporting windows have fixed dates.

• Visa dates and validity
  • If your China visa has a specific “enter by” date and the cancellation pushes arrival past that date, you’ll need to secure a flight that gets you in earlier or speak to your inviting unit in China about options.
  • For general policy and entry control information, see the official site of the National Immigration Administration of China.
• Residence and work start dates
  • New hires expected to start soon after arrival should notify their employer’s HR team if rebooking changes the timeline.
  • Many companies can shift onboarding by a few days, but they need notice to adjust internal filings.
• Short-stay business trips
  • Business travelers with meetings timed to the original Flight ETD9735 schedule may need to re-sequence visits or move to virtual sessions until a new flight is secured.

Families and students often build trips around narrow school breaks or important events. In these cases, consider:

• Rebooking to the next China Eastern flight from Abu Dhabi.
• Looking at connections through partner hubs if a nonstop isn’t available.
• Accepting mixed-carrier itineraries if that preserves key dates.

Etihad’s team can explain available choices, including mixed-carrier options and through-checked baggage arrangements.

Practical tips for rebooking, refunds, and claims

• Act quickly: Partner seats often fill fast after a cancellation.
• Check onward tickets: If you have separate onward tickets beyond Shanghai, contact those carriers as soon as a new arrival time is set. Separate bookings are usually strict about missed connections.
• Keep receipts: Save receipts for food, hotels, ground transport, and communication costs tied to the cancellation. These help speed reimbursement if Etihad confirms you qualify for care or compensation.
• Medication and health: Ensure your medication supply covers an extra day or two; if not, consult airport medical services or your insurer about interim support.
• Documentation: If you need care/compensation, record communications and keep all relevant documents and booking references.

If you booked on Etihad stock as a simple round trip, Etihad should handle changes for both outbound and return segments to keep your journey consistent. For separate tickets, expect possible change fees or fare differences, though some carriers may be flexible if you provide proof of cancellation.

The broader context: joint venture and market implications

The wider story behind Flight ETD9735 is strategic. Etihad’s suspension of its own Abu Dhabi–Shanghai services in late April 2025 aligns with the launch of its joint venture with China Eastern, which now operates the route. As of mid-May, Etihad removed future flights from its schedule for the rest of 2025.

• Short-term: These changes can create brief mismatches between demand and seat supply, particularly when a cancelled flight pushes many passengers onto a small set of alternatives.
• Long-term: Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests joint ventures often shift which carrier’s metal operates a route without reducing overall long-term capacity.

Travelers who move quickly, stay flexible by a day or two, and accept nearby connection options tend to secure solutions fastest.

Final key takeaways and next steps

• Etihad continues to support Abu Dhabi–Shanghai itineraries through its partnership with China Eastern. Support may include through-checked bags, coordinated schedules, and reciprocal policies, depending on the ticket.
• Start with Etihad’s digital tools (email alerts and the “Manage Booking” portal) — these are the fastest ways to check status and act on rebooking, refunds, or credit.
• If your plans are flexible, consider shifting to a shoulder-day flight for more availability.
• If timing is tight (visa, job start), inform your host or employer in Shanghai immediately once a new itinerary is confirmed.

The Abu Dhabi to Shanghai market remains open; it’s just changing which airline operates the metal on a given day. With prompt action and clear communication, most passengers should be able to move their trip forward with minimal disruption.