Etihad Airways has unveiled plans to launch flights to seven new destinations spanning the Gulf, Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, as part of a strategic push to boost point-to-point travel directly to Abu Dhabi.
The newly announced cities are Almaty (Kazakhstan), Baku (Azerbaijan), Bucharest (Romania), Madina (Saudi Arabia), Tbilisi (Georgia), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), and Yerevan (Armenia). The airline confirmed that ticket sales will open in the coming days, with services beginning in March 2026. However, flights to Madina are scheduled to commence earlier, in November 2025.
The expansion brings the total number of new destinations announced by the airline for 2025 to 27, underscoring Etihad’s aggressive growth strategy and renewed focus on enhancing Abu Dhabi’s global connectivity.
“Our goal is clear: we want to bring more people directly to Abu Dhabi,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways. “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.”
Neves emphasized the scale of the airline’s growth, noting that the addition of these seven destinations marks a significant milestone. “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,” he added.
Earlier this year, Etihad inaugurated flights to four new cities — Prague, Warsaw, Sochi, and Atlanta — as part of its 2025 expansion. The airline is also set to add another 13 routes before the end of the year.
In addition to the latest announcement, Etihad recently introduced three seasonal summer destinations for 2026: Kraków (Poland), Salalah (Oman), and Kazan (Russia). These will operate during peak travel months, aiming to capture demand from leisure travelers.
The airline’s growing network reflects broader efforts by the UAE to position Abu Dhabi as a major global aviation hub, with Etihad playing a central role in that vision. The expansion also aligns with national tourism goals, particularly those focused on attracting visitors from emerging markets across Central Asia and Eastern Europe.
