Etihad Airways has announced the addition of seven new destinations across Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East, marking a strategic expansion of its network aimed at strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a global aviation hub.
Starting from March 2026, Etihad will launch scheduled services to Almaty (Kazakhstan), Baku (Azerbaijan), Bucharest (Romania), Tbilisi (Georgia), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), and Yerevan (Armenia). Flights to Madina (Saudi Arabia) will commence earlier, in November 2025.
Tickets for the new routes will go on sale in the coming days, with the airline positioning the expansion as a key component of its point-to-point connectivity strategy.
The seven additions bring the total number of new destinations announced by Etihad for 2025 to 27, reinforcing the airline’s ambitious growth trajectory, which is underpinned by fleet optimisation and route profitability.
“Our goal is clear: we want to bring more people directly to Abu Dhabi. These new routes connect us to fast-growing, culturally rich regions and will help stimulate demand for tourism and trade in the UAE’s capital,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad’s chief executive officer.
So far this year, Etihad has launched operations to Prague, Warsaw, Sochi, and Atlanta, with 13 more routes set to begin before the end of 2025. The airline also recently revealed its 2026 seasonal summer schedule, which will include flights to Kraków (Poland), Salalah (Oman), and Kazan (Russia) during peak travel months.
Neves added, “With these seven additions, Etihad will have launched 27 new routes in a single year, a remarkable milestone that reflects our ambition and commitment to Abu Dhabi’s growth.”
The expansion aligns with Abu Dhabi’s long-term tourism strategy and the emirate’s goal of positioning itself as a premier destination for business and leisure travellers. It also complements recent infrastructure upgrades at Abu Dhabi International Airport and the broader UAE aviation ecosystem.