Etihad Airways Expands Flight Network With Seven New Routes to Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East by 2026
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has announced the addition of seven new international destinations, further cementing the UAE capital’s strategic role as a major global aviation hub. The new routes—connecting Abu Dhabi to Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Romania, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan—are set to launch across 2025 and 2026, significantly expanding the airline’s footprint across Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.
The expansion aligns closely with the UAE government’s goal of enhancing tourism, economic collaboration, and business travel across high-growth regions, in line with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. By targeting emerging markets, Etihad is poised to boost point-to-point international traffic, fostering tourism flows and bilateral cooperation with neighboring countries and beyond.
Seven New Destinations Strengthen Abu Dhabi’s Global Reach
The newly added routes—Tbilisi, Yerevan, Almaty, Baku, Bucharest, Medina, and Tashkent—are scheduled to launch between November 2025 and March 2026. Among them, Medina will begin service first on November 9, 2025, operating six flights weekly to accommodate rising religious tourism and winter travel demand.
Other destinations will follow in March 2026, including:
- Baku, Azerbaijan – From March 2, 2026, with 10 flights weekly
- Yerevan, Armenia – Starting March 9, 2026, with 10 flights weekly
- Tbilisi, Georgia – Launching March 13, 2026, with eight flights weekly
- Almaty, Kazakhstan – From March 16, 2026, with eight flights weekly
- Bucharest, Romania – Starting March 16, 2026, with four weekly flights
- Tashkent, Uzbekistan – Launching March 17, 2026, with six flights weekly
These schedules are designed to maximize travel convenience while meeting the rising demand for tourism and business connectivity between Abu Dhabi and fast-growing regional hubs.
Strategic Aviation Growth Backed by UAE Tourism Vision
This latest expansion reflects Etihad’s aggressive growth plan, which has already introduced 29 new routes for 2025, marking the airline’s most robust network development year to date. The strategy supports the UAE’s national tourism targets, which aim to attract 40 million hotel guests annually by 2031, as outlined in the National Tourism Strategy 2031 by the UAE Ministry of Economy.
Central Asia and Eastern Europe have emerged as key outbound markets in recent years, with countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Georgia reporting growing interest in leisure and medical tourism to the UAE. Etihad’s move to connect these cities directly to Abu Dhabi streamlines travel for both tourism and trade, aligning with Visit Abu Dhabi’s regional marketing initiatives.
Enhancing Point-to-Point and Transit Options Through Abu Dhabi
In addition to attracting point-to-point passengers, the new routes are expected to bolster transit travel through Abu Dhabi, supporting Abu Dhabi International Airport’s long-term development goals. The newly opened Terminal A, which significantly increases passenger capacity, is expected to support the influx of travelers from these new destinations.
This expansion also complements Etihad’s existing network into Western Europe, the U.S., and Asia, providing one-stop access from cities like Tbilisi or Almaty to global destinations via Abu Dhabi.
Earlier in 2025, Etihad launched four new international routes to Prague, Warsaw, Sochi, and Atlanta, as part of a broader effort to establish Abu Dhabi as a bridge between East and West.
Targeting Religious, Business, and Seasonal Tourism
Each of the seven new destinations was strategically selected based on rising tourism appeal, regional economic ties, and seasonal travel demand:
- Medina, with its six weekly flights, is geared towards religious pilgrims and winter tourists from the UAE.
- Tbilisi and Yerevan have grown in popularity among UAE-based travelers due to visa-free access and cultural appeal.
- Almaty and Tashkent serve as gateways to Central Asia’s dynamic tourism markets, now more accessible thanks to relaxed visa policies.
- Bucharest offers access to one of Eastern Europe’s most promising travel markets, especially during summer months.
- Baku, a major cultural and economic hub in the Caucasus, has seen steady growth in UAE inbound and outbound travel, making it a natural fit for high-frequency service.
A Balanced Network with Seasonal and Year-Round Routes
Etihad is also preparing to introduce three seasonal summer destinations for 2026: Krakow (Poland), Salalah (Oman), and Kazan (Russia). These routes will target summer holiday travelers and those looking to explore culturally rich but lesser-known destinations.
Etihad’s adaptive route planning, which blends year-round service with seasonal opportunities, allows the airline to meet shifting market trends while remaining agile in its response to global travel demand.
Supporting Economic and Cultural Diplomacy
Beyond tourism, these new routes have diplomatic and economic implications. Direct flights between Abu Dhabi and cities in Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan are likely to stimulate cross-border investment and government partnerships. Many of these countries are strengthening ties with the UAE across sectors including energy, agriculture, and education, and enhanced air connectivity will support sustained engagement.
Conclusion
Etihad Airways’ 2025–2026 route expansion into Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East not only meets the growing demand for air travel but also reinforces the UAE’s status as a global connector. As the national airline sharpens its strategic vision around tourism diversification and regional integration, Abu Dhabi is set to solidify its position as the premier gateway linking emerging travel markets with the world.
With robust infrastructure, tourism-friendly policies, and a clear focus on international collaboration, Abu Dhabi—and Etihad Airways—are well-positioned to lead the next chapter of global aviation.
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