Etihad Airways has expanded its network with seven new destinations: Almaty, Kazakhstan; Baku, Azerbaijan; Bucharest, Romania; Medina, Saudi Arabia; Tbilisi, Georgia; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; and Yerevan, Armenia.
Flights are now on sale and services will begin in March 2026, with Medina to start operating in November 2025. All flights will connect through the Abu Dhabi hub airport.
Medina is a city with profound spiritual significance and deep-rooted Islamic heritage. The Prophet’s Mosque welcomes pilgrims from around the world, while the city’s hospitality and growing infrastructure make the destination increasingly convenient for travellers.
Romania’s capital Bucharest, has an Old Town heaving with historical buildings and nightlife, while the Stavropoleos Monastery showcases intricate architecture and frescoes from the 18th century. A day trip to Bran Castle, often associated with the Dracula legend, is only 2.5 hours travel time from Bucharest.
Georgia lies on the doorstep of Europe and Asia, and its capital Tbilisi offers a blend of old and modern. Known for its colourful balconies historic sulphur baths and arts scene, the city lies on the Kuru River. Cross its Bridge of Peace, a modern pedestrian walkway, for city views, or explore the ancient Narikala Fortress.
Armenia’s capital Yerevan is notable for its Soviet-era architecture and for being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Armenia shares a border with both Turkey and Georgia, with its capital offering grand squares, pink stone buildings, and mountain views. Visit the Vernissage market for handicrafts or the History Museum of Armenia.
Baku, Azerbaijan, which is a neighbour of Iran, is located on the Caspian Sea, featuring bold architecture and a seaside promenade. Visitors should check out the UNESCO-listed Old City (Icheri Sheher), visit the Flame Towers, stroll along Baku Boulevard, and take a day trip to Gobustan National Park to see the mud volcanoes
Almaty in Kazakhstan, a neighbour to Russia, wows with tree-lined avenues and surrounding alpine peaks. Its proximity to mountains (pictured) makes it ideal for skiing holidays at Shymbulak ski resort or hiking to the Big Almaty Lake or Kok Tobe Hill. For a slice of culture, other popular options include the Central State Museum and Zenkov Cathedral.
While Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is sandwiched between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, and is filled with historical discoveries. The Amir Timur Museum houses manuscripts, weapons and other relics from the Timurid dynasty, and the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan has centuries-old Buddhist artifacts. Tashkent Tower’s observation deck is best for sky-high views across the double land-locked destination.
Four new destinations launched earlier this year: Prague, Warsaw, Sochi and Atlanta, with another 13 routes to be added before the year closes.
Etihad has also recently unveiled three new seasonal summer destinations for 2026: Krakow in Poland, Salalah in Oman, and Kazan in Russia, all set to operate during the peak travel months.
