Etihad Airways is in major expansion mode at the moment, in a project known as Journey 2030. With this, the airline is looking to grow significantly, both in terms of its fleet and its number of destinations.
In late 2024, the airline announced its biggest expansion ever, where it announced 10 new routes in one day. Now the airline has announced seven additional new routes, with one launching late this year, and six launching in early 2026. Let’s go over the details.
Details of Etihad’s latest route expansion
Etihad has revealed plans to add flights to seven new destinations, as part of its ongoing strategy to bring more point-to-point traffic directly to Abu Dhabi. Here are the seven new destinations, along with launch dates and frequencies:
- Medina, Saudi Arabia (MED) — 6x weekly flights launching November 9, 2025
- Baku, Azerbaijan (GYD) — 10x weekly flights launching March 2, 2026
- Yerevan, Armenia (EVN) — 10x weekly flights launching March 9, 2026
- Tbilisi, Georgia (TBS) — 8x weekly flights launching March 13, 2026
- Almaty, Kazakhstan (ALA) — 8x weekly flights launching March 16, 2026
- Bucharest, Romania (OTP) — 4x weekly flights launching March 16, 2026
- Tashkent, Uzbekistan (TAS) — 6x weekly flights launching March 17, 2026
The flights are expected to go on sale over the coming days. With this latest announcement, this brings Etihad’s total number of new destinations for 2025 to 27. That’s an unbelievable growth pace, when you consider that the airline started the year with under 80 destinations.
All of these destinations cover a distance of somewhere between 941 miles and 2,121 miles. It’s not yet clear what aircraft will be used for these new routes, though I’d expect they’ll primarily be operated by narrow body jets (Etihad is taking delivery of brand new A321LRs, though perhaps the regional A320-family jets will largely be used for these flights).
Here’s how Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves describes these additions:
“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.”
My take on Etihad’s latest expansion
I don’t think these seven new destinations are going to catch anyone off guard, or rock the boat. Quite to the contrary, I suspect most people not familiar with the specifics of Etihad’s route network may be surprised that these destinations aren’t already served by the airline. A couple of things stand out here.
First of all, it’s interesting that this announcement comes one day after Wizz Air announced it would shut down its Wizz Air Abu Dhabi subsidiary, and a majority of these newly announced routes are currently served by Wizz Air.
I doubt the routes or the timing of the announcement are a coincidence, as it would be much more difficult for Etihad to operate these routes while going head-to-head against an ultra low cost carrier.
I also find it noteworthy how Etihad is framing these new routes. Typically new routes from Gulf carriers are all about connecting traffic and building global connectivity, but Etihad is pretty clear here with the intent — it’s part of its “ongoing strategy to bring more point-to-point traffic directly to Abu Dhabi,” to “strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a thriving hub for tourism, culture, and commerce.”
I’m not sure if Etihad is just marketing it this way for optics, and because it’s owned by the government. But that’s framed a little differently than the typical route announcements we see from Gulf carriers. There’s not even a mention of how these routes fit into the larger network.
Either way, I’m pleased to see these new route additions. The frequencies are a bit funny to me — no routes are daily, but some are more than daily, which is perhaps a bit surprising for a new, point-to-point market. We should learn more in the coming days, as these flights are put on sale.
Bottom line
Etihad has announced plans to launch service to seven new destinations, including Almaty, Baku, Bucharest, Medina, Tashkent, Tbilisi, and Yerevan. In total, this means the airline has announced 27 new destinations in recent times, which is mighty impressive.
There are no additions here that I’d consider to be particularly shocking, and if anything, the collapse of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi should help with the economics of this service.
What do you make of Etihad’s latest expansion announcement?
