UAE's Etihad To Launch Direct Abu Dhabikazakhstan And Uzbekistan Flights In 2026

(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, July 16. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has announced the launch of new direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Tashkent (Uzbekistan), starting in 2026, Trend reports.

Flights to Almaty will begin on March 16, 2026, operating eight times per week, while service to Tashkent is set to launch on March 17, 2026, with six weekly flights. Tickets for both routes are expected to go on sale in the coming days.

“Our goal is clear: we want to bring more people directly to Abu Dhabi. These new routes connect us to fast-growing, culturally rich regions and will help stimulate demand for tourism and trade in the UAE's capital,” said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways.

This announcement follows the recent decision by low-cost carrier Wizz Air Abu Dhabi to suspend all operations starting September 1, 2025, as part of a wider strategic restructuring by its parent company, Wizz Air Holdings. Etihad's expansion into Central Asia is seen as a timely move to fill the gap left by Wizz Air's withdrawal from the region.

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