Etihad Airways to launch seven new routes

It appears that Etihad Airways is responding to Wizz Air’s withdrawal from the market, with seven new routes being announced.

The move is to expand the Etihad network, whilst supporting the growth of point-to-point traffic directly to Abu Dhabi.

The flights are set to go on sale over the next few days, and services will begin in March 2026, with Medina to start operating in November 2025. They are:

• Almaty, Kazakhstan – 8 times a week from 16th March 2026
• Baku, Azerbaijan – 10 times a week from 2nd March 2026
• Bucharest, Romania – 4 times a week from 16th March 2026
• Medina, Saudi Arabia – 6 times a week from 9th November 2025
• Tbilisi, Georgia – 8 times a week from 13th March 2026
• Tashkent, Uzbekistan – 6 times a week from 17th March 2026
• Yerevan, Armenia – 10 times a week from 9th March 2026

Given the distance from Abu Dhabi these destinations are, expect flights to be operated by Etihad Airways A320 family to operate these routes.

These latest additions bring Etihad’s total number of new destinations for 2025 to 27, following earlier announcements of year-round routes and seasonal services.

The announcement comes just days after Etihad unveiled three new seasonal summer destinations for 2026: Kraków in Poland, Salalah in Oman, and Kazan in Russia, all set to operate during the peak travel months.

In Quotes

Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad’s Chief Executive Officer, said:

“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.

“From the spiritual significance of Medina to the historic charm of Tbilisi and Yerevan, and the modern vibrancy of cities like Baku and Almaty, each destination adds depth to our growing network and attracts travellers with diverse interests.

“With these seven additions, Etihad will have announced or commenced operations to 27 new routes in a single year – a remarkable milestone that reflects our ambition and commitment to Abu Dhabi’s growth.

“Whether for business or leisure, guests can expect a seamless journey and world-class hospitality that reflects Etihad’s elevated service. These connections make it easier than ever to experience everything Abu Dhabi has to offer.”

A Regional Play

It seems that Etihad Airways is going after premium regional traffic now that Wizz Air is exiting the region, whilst using Air Arabia Abu Dhabi to pick off the value consumers (given that Etihad Airways is an investor in Air Arabia Abu Dhabi), given the overlap in the new routes and what the low-cost carrier operates.

It’s interesting to note the tone used in the release, with them targeting point-to-point traffic, instead of the traditional transfer traffic that Etihad is used to.  Clearly, they’re trying to develop the route network to support local growth, as opposed to relying on transfer traffic.

This could be one to watch.