Etihad Airways is expanding capacity across several routes, citing demand that has outpaced expectations, with changes spanning Europe, South Asia, and the Indian Ocean.
The most significant shift is on the Abu Dhabi-Dhaka route, which launched its inaugural flight on 26 June with a full load and will now operate year-round at four flights per week. The service runs on a Boeing 777 configured with 28 business class seats and 374 economy seats. Etihad said the move is intended to serve the large Bangladeshi community in the UAE and support cargo flows between the two countries.
In Europe, the Brussels service will increase from 7 to 11 weekly flights from 15 December, with the additional four frequencies operated on an Airbus A321LR carrying first class, business class, and economy. Krakow, currently served three times weekly, will move to four flights a week from 27 July 2026, also on the A321LR.
On the leisure side, seasonal service to Zanzibar has been extended through to 31 March 2027, well beyond its previous end date in September, due to strong uptake for the Indian Ocean destination. The Palma de Mallorca seasonal route, also on the A321LR, has been extended to 18 October 2026.
Arik De, Etihad’s chief revenue and commercial officer, said demand across the network had exceeded forecasts. “Our guests’ appetite has surpassed expectations, with strong demand across different markets, from Brussels and Dhaka to Krakow, Zanzibar, and Palma,” he said, adding that the additional flights and extended seasonal services would bring more visitors to Abu Dhabi while deepening connectivity across its global network.
