Etihad Airways to expand Kabul–Abu Dhabi flights to daily service amid surging demand

Etihad Airways has announced it will upgrade its Kabul–Abu Dhabi service to daily flights starting May 1, 2026, citing a sharp rise in passenger demand and improving international connectivity.

In a statement issued Thursday, the airline said the move follows a strong market response and higher-than-expected bookings, just weeks after operations on the route resumed. The Kabul–Abu Dhabi corridor has quickly re-emerged as a crucial air link for travelers seeking reliable international connections from Afghanistan.

Etihad relaunched the route on March 20, 2026, initially operating four weekly flights. The rapid shift to daily service underscores the route’s commercial viability and reflects growing confidence in sustained passenger demand.

Airline officials noted that the expanded schedule will offer greater flexibility and convenience for both business and leisure travelers between Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates.

The increase in frequency is also expected to significantly boost onward connectivity, allowing passengers departing from Kabul to access major global destinations—including London, Frankfurt, Toronto, and Washington, D.C.—via Abu Dhabi.

The development is widely viewed as an important step toward strengthening Afghanistan’s air links with Europe and North America, amid signs of gradual recovery in regional and international travel.