Kabul. Photo: Shutterstock Starting next month, Etihad Airways, the UAE's national carrier, has announced it will increase its flight frequency between Abu Dhabi and Kabul to daily service from May 1, 2026, in response to "strong demand following the successful launch of the route earlier this year."
Etihad. Photo: ShutterstockThe service was inaugurated last month, on the 20th, and featured four weekly flights which recorded "robust passenger demand from both point-to-point travelers and those connecting across Etihad’s global network, quickly establishing itself as a vital link between Afghanistan and the UAE."
Abu Dhabi. Photo: frantic00 / ShutterstockThe flights are operated via Airbus A320 aircraft that feature eight Business and 150 Economy seats. Seamless connections onwards are available via Zayed International Airport (AUH) to a variety of European and North American destinations, including London, Frankfurt, Charlotte, Toronto and Washington.
The UAE is currently home to one of the largest Afghan communities in the Gulf region, whihc means that the decision to increase the Kabul service to daily will add even more strenght to the "economic and social connections", while supporting the families of the "hundreds of thousands of Afghans living and working in the country", as well as business ties and cultural exchanges.
Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer: “This expansion reflects our strategic approach to network development, where we deploy capacity in response to market demand while continuing to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s role as a key gateway connecting regional markets with Etihad’s global network.”