Etihad Airways is boosting connectivity from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Central and Eastern Europe with the launch of two new routes, marking its debut in the Czech Republic and Poland.
Starting June 2, 2025, Prague and Warsaw will each receive four flights per week from Abu Dhabi, operated by Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The airline says the move is part of efforts to diversify its European network.
“These routes not only enrich our network but also offer a great opportunity to strengthen ties with these countries and attract more visitors to Abu Dhabi,” Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves says. “We see this as a key part of our growth strategy, helping to drive tourism and support the UAE’s vision for the future.”
Before the pandemic, Etihad Airways served four destinations in Central and Eastern Europe, comprising Baku, Azerbaijan; Belgrade, Serbia; Minsk, Belarus; and Moscow Domodedovo, Russia. However, the airline now only operates flights to Russia, with daily service to Moscow Sheremetyevo and 2X-weekly flights to St. Petersburg.
Jiří Pos, chairman of Prague’s Václav Havel Airport, says the planned arrival of Etihad follows 11 years of negotiations between the parties. “With this step, our network of long-haul flights is expanding again, and we are able to offer passengers another important Middle East destination with great local potential and a network of connecting flights to Asia, Africa and Australia,” he adds.
According to data from OAG Schedules Analyser, Etihad will face no direct competition on either of its new routes. Currently, there are no nonstop flights between Abu Dhabi and the Czech Republic, while Wizz Air is the only carrier offering flights between Abu Dhabi and Poland, operating three times per week from Krakow.
However, Emirates and flydubai each offer daily service from Dubai to both Prague and Warsaw, with Smartwings also offering a weekly flight from Prague to Ras al Khaimah.
Etihad’s European expansion coincides with a reduction in service by Air France to Abu Dhabi. According to the latest schedule updates, the SkyTeam member will cease operations on its Paris Charles de Gaulle route from Oct. 27.
Currently, Air France operates up to seven flights per week on the route using Airbus A350-900s, while Etihad provides daily service with A350-1000s. However, for the upcoming winter 2024-25 season, Air France will end flights while Etihad plans to switch to A380 service.
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