ABU DHABI- The national carrier of the UAE, Etihad Airways (EY), is set to increase its international reach as it plans to add three new destinations from Abu Dhabi: Kazan (Russia), Salalah (Oman), and Kraków (Poland).
These upcoming routes, scheduled for launch between December 2025 and May 2026, add new diversity to Etihad’s growing global network.
Etihad New Route to Central Asia, Kazan
Starting December 4, 2025, Etihad will operate three weekly flights to Kazan. Kazan is the capital of Tatarstan and one of Russia’s oldest cities. Etihad will introduce the route as a seasonal winter service.
Etihad’s Abu Dhabi–Kazan route restores nonstop Gulf connectivity to Tatarstan’s capital. The city had limited direct international links since pre-pandemic reductions.
The service improves access for the sizable Central Asian and Russian diaspora in the UAE, while bypassing congested hubs like Moscow.
Kazan becomes the third Russian city in Etihad’s network after Moscow. The airline already flies to Moscow and will resume seasonal service to Saint Petersburg.
The new link offers a direct connection to Kazan during the Russian peak holiday season, including New Year and Orthodox Christmas.
New Daily Flights to Salalah
Etihad will begin a new daily service to Salalah, starting from May 21, 2026. This route is likely being introduced to serve the seasonal demand of the Khareef monsoon season.
This annual climate shift brings cooler temperatures and increased rainfall to southern Oman between June and September. This prompts a surge in leisure travel.
In 2023, Salalah Airport handled over 900,000 passengers during the Khareef period alone, according to data from Oman’s Civil Aviation Authority. The launch of flights just ahead of this seasonal window indicates Etihad predicts a spike in demand.
Etihad will operate daily flights, offering flexibility for both short and extended stays.
Summer seasonal Flights to Kraków
Etihad will also be launching a new route to Kraków. The flights to this city in Poland will begin on May 21, 2026. Etihad’s new service to Kraków marks the airline’s 2nd route to Poland. The airline currently serves Warsaw, the capital of Poland, 4 times a week.
Kraków will be connected to Abu Dhabi with three weekly flights. The Polish city is a major urban center in Central Europe and a key airport for southern Poland. Passenger traffic at Kraków Airport reached over 9 million in 2023, making it one of the fastest-growing regional hubs in the EU.
With this new route, Etihad will have a direct option to Southern Poland. The direct flights shall help in increasing leisure and VFR demand between the two countries.
Aircraft and Operational Outlook
Etihad will deploy its Airbus A320s on the Salalah and Kazan routes, both of which fall well within the aircraft’s range.
The Abu Dhabi–Kraków route will be flown using the longer-range Airbus A321LR (Long Range). Etihad will be able to serve medium-haul European destinations without the need for wide-body aircraft.
This marks one of A321LR’s longest scheduled flights from Abu Dhabi, with a block time of just under seven hours westbound. Earlier, there was speculation that Etihad might assign some of these thinner routes to Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, its low-cost joint venture, given the demand profiles and aircraft types.
However, Etihad appears set to retain these new routes under its mainline brand, possibly to evaluate new markets and utilize available narrow-body aircraft efficiently.
Bottom Line
With Kazan, Salalah, and Kraków set to join Etihad’s route map, Etihad will be flying to 97 destinations worldwide. The airline will be very close to reaching the 100 destinations milestone.
Etihad will operate each new route seasonally—Kazan during winter, Salalah in the monsoon months, and Kraków throughout the European summer—based on expected travel demand.
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