Video: Etihad touches down with Airbus A380 in Toronto for the 1st time
June 25, 2025
Etihad has made history as it touches down in Toronto with its Airbus A380 for the first time.
The superjumbo touched down around two and a half hours late after a delayed departure. Flight EY21 was scheduled to take off at 02:20 from Abu Dhabi, but didn’t depart until three hours later, at 05:33. It was likely impacted by congestion following airspace disruption in the Middle East.
It finally arrived at 11:43 local time and was greeted with a water cannon salute by Toronto Pearson’s firefighters.
Etihad’s iconic A380 just touched down at Toronto Pearson for the first time. This A380 – which is the largest passenger aircraft in the world – features a three-room suite in the sky.
— Sarwat Najmi (@snajmi23) June 25, 2025
Welcome to Toronto Pearson! ✈️ #Copy pic.twitter.com/YtFCd9HOAm
Passengers on this first Etihad Airbus A380 flight to Toronto were treated to a special menu, exclusive products and a celebratory atmosphere.
Etihad a célébré l’inauguration de l’A380 à Toronto 🇨🇦 avec des menus exclusifs et des produits uniques.#Etihad #Toronto pic.twitter.com/fgtMgR3Og9
— Gate7 (@Gate7aviation) June 24, 2025
Double Airbus A380 service for Toronto Pearson for the first time
With the inauguration of the Etihad service, Toronto will now see two daily A380 flights from Middle East operators. Both Etihad and Emirates will serve the city, marking the first time in history Toronto Pearson has had a double A380 service.
Toronto has been a key city for Etihad since it launched. It was the carrier’s first North American destination when it launched in 2005, just two years after Etihad began flying. Since then, the Abu Dhabi airline has flown A330s, A340s, A350s, 777s and 787s on the route.
The upgrade to the 486-seat Airbus A380 allows Etihad to add capacity in a market that is constrained by UAE-Canada bilateral service agreements. Adding the A380 adds 30% more seats and more premium seats than the previously-used A350.
“Toronto has been a cornerstone of our North American network since 2005, when we became the first airline from the Gulf region to operate flights to Canada,” says Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Etihad Airways. “The introduction of our flagship aircraft on this route reflects our deep commitment to the Canadian market.”
To free up the A380 for the Toronto service, Etihad pulled it from New York JFK, sending the Airbus A350 there instead.
Not only is Toronto the first Canadian city to see two A380s in one day, but with arrival times just 30 minutes apart, both flights will be on the ground at the same time.
Canada’s first double A380 service in almost three years
Canada is no stranger to the Airbus A380.
The first double decker aircraft arrived in Canada June 2009, with Emirates flying from Dubai to Toronto. For many years, Emirates was restricted to just three weekly flights, and needed its biggest bird to maximise capacity.
With restrictions lifted, Emirates went daily with the A380 in 2023 and has flown the route ever since, but has been Toronto’s only A380 operator for two and a half years.
Canada has seen plenty of other A380s over the years. British Airways flew the type to Vancouver from May 2016 on a summer seasonal service, but that ended in 2019.
Air France, too, operated the A380 to Montreal on a one-off service in 2010, then with regular service from April 2011. But it ended this in October 2012, just a year and a half later, and no A380 has touched down in Montreal since.
With the launch of Etihad A380 service to Toronto, Canada has, once again, two daily A380 services – both at Toronto.
