Etihad to launch Abu Dhabi-Kabul flights

Etihad Airways will launch flights between Abu Dhabi and Kabul in Afghanistan starting 18 December 2025. 

 

The service will run three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays using an Airbus A320 with eight Business Class and 150 Economy Class seats.

 

The airline said the new route responds to "growing demand for travel between the UAE and Afghanistan".

 

The outbound flight will take off from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH) at 14:45, arriving at Kabul International Airport (KBL) at 18:15. The return service will depart Kabul at 19:10, touching down in Abu Dhabi at 22:10 local time.

 

Air access to Afghanistan has been gradually rebuilding since the suspension of most international services in 2021, with carriers such as Flydubai and Air Arabia resuming flights to the capital.

 

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Commenting on the launch, Antonoaldo Neves, CEO at Etihad Airways, said: “Kabul represents another important step in Etihad’s strategy to expand access to markets within a four-hour radius of Abu Dhabi.

 

“These flights will serve strong travel demand, enable trade and investment flows, and reconnect families and communities.”

 

The Afghan capital marks Etihad’s 31st new destination announced in 2025 as part of its network growth strategy across the Middle East and beyond. 

 

The airline recently launched six weekly direct flights to Madinah, Saudi Arabia, and will resume services to Damascus, Syria, from June 2026 after more than a decade.

 

To support its expansion, Etihad has 28 Boeing wide-body aircraft on firm order and expects delivery of another 18 aircraft before the end of 2025. 

 

The airline reported record profits in the first half of 2025, achieving AED 1.1 billion after tax, a 32% year-on-year increase driven by sustained passenger growth and network optimisation.

 

For more information, visit etihad.com