Etihad Airways is capitalizing on the opportunity created by Wizz Air Abu Dhabi’s upcoming shutdown, unveiling seven new routes from the UAE capital that will fill gaps left by the ULCC’s exit.
The expansion comes after Wizz Air on July 14 announced it would cease Abu Dhabi base operations from Sept. 1, ending a four-year attempt to establish a Gulf foothold.
The new Etihad services—set to launch between November 2025 and March 2026—include flights to Medina, Saudi Arabia; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; and Almaty, Kazakhstan—among 17 destinations previously served exclusively by Wizz Air Abu Dhabi from Zayed International Airport (AUH).
“Our goal is clear: We want to bring more people directly to Abu Dhabi,” Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves says. “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.”
According to analysis of OAG Schedules Analyser data, six of the seven routes being launched by Etihad were served by Wizz Air Abu Dhabi—Almaty; Baku, Azerbaijan; Bucharest, Romania; Medina; Tashkent; and Yerevan, Armenia. Only Tbilisi, Georgia, is currently unserved by the ULCC.
The new services will also see Etihad competing with its own joint venture, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, on four of the routes—Almaty, Baku, Tbilisi and Yerevan—as the two carriers expand their networks out of AUH.
“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,” Neves adds.
The timing of Etihad’s move follows a strategic pullback by Wizz Air, which plans to refocus its growth on core European markets where it sees stronger long-term potential and profitability. The Hungarian airline cited operational constraints, regional instability and restricted market access for its decision to close its Abu Dhabi-based subsidiary.
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, a joint venture with Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ, launched in January 2021 and currently flies to 25 destinations. It operates a fleet of 12 aircraft, comprising eight Airbus A321s and four A321neos.
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