Etihad Airways adds Kraków, Salalah, Kazan to Abu Dhabi flight list
Etihad Airways is strengthening its international footprint by announcing three new seasonal routes from Abu Dhabi to Kazan in Russia, Salalah in Oman, and Kraków in Poland. Scheduled between December 2025 and May 2026, the additions align with seasonal passenger demand patterns. These routes bring Etihad closer to reaching its milestone of 100 global destinations, underscoring the carrier’s renewed strategy of efficiently using narrow-body aircraft to tap emerging markets.
Etihad’s latest expansion adds a significant layer to its Gulf–Eurasia connectivity. Beginning December 4, 2025, the airline will operate three weekly winter flights to Kazan, restoring direct access to Tatarstan’s capital. This route is seen as critical for re-linking the Russian diaspora in the UAE with their homeland without relying on congested Moscow airports. Following that, the carrier will launch daily flights to Salalah on May 21, 2026, coinciding with Oman’s peak Khareef tourism season. The monsoon period typically draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to Salalah’s misty hills and cool weather. Etihad’s timing, just ahead of this seasonal demand window, reflects data-backed planning. With its daily frequency, the airline offers flexibility for leisure and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) travellers. Both the Kazan and Salalah services will utilise Etihad’s Airbus A320 fleet, balancing fuel efficiency with passenger capacity for these medium-haul routes.
Also launching on May 21, 2026, is Etihad’s new summer service to Kraków, Poland. This marks Etihad’s second Polish destination after Warsaw and introduces three weekly flights to one of Europe’s fastest-growing regional airports. Kraków, known for its rich cultural heritage and growing economic profile, is an emerging hub for Central European tourism and business travel. Etihad will deploy the Airbus A321LR for this medium-haul route—one of the longest flights operated using this narrow-body aircraft. This decision reflects the airline’s focus on right-sizing aircraft for market-specific needs, while maintaining direct connectivity under its flagship brand. Notably, Etihad has opted not to route these services through its low-cost joint venture, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, choosing instead to operate them via its mainline service. The strategy signals a targeted evaluation of high-potential routes using available fleet resources while pushing toward the 100-destination milestone in its global expansion journey.
Etihad’s announcement to link Abu Dhabi with Kazan, Salalah, and Kraków reflects a forward-looking strategy rooted in seasonal demand and regional access gaps. The airline’s decision to operate all three routes under its mainline brand, rather than its budget affiliate, indicates a long-term interest in testing premium and leisure market viability. By aligning fleet deployment with travel trends, Etihad is strategically positioning itself to serve diaspora, tourism, and business segments alike. With these additions, the carrier edges closer to the symbolic 100-destination threshold, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s role as a growing international aviation hub.
