Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), plans to further expand its European route network in summer 2025. In a press release dated 6 September 2024, the airline announced that it will launch direct connections between Abu Dhabi and two new destinations in Europe, Warsaw (Poland) and Prague (Czech Republic). This decision underlines the growing importance of Europe for the airline's international expansion strategy.
From 2 June 2025, Etihad will operate four direct flights per week from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Warsaw (WAW) and Prague (PRG). These routes will be served by state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliners, known for their fuel efficiency and comfort for long-haul flights. This expansion is part of the airline's broader strategy to enter new markets and strengthen the connection between the Middle East and Europe.
The addition of Warsaw and Prague to Etihad Airways' network is not only a strategic move to strengthen the airline's presence in Europe, but also a signal of the growing interest in these emerging European markets. Poland and the Czech Republic have become major players in the European economic area in recent years, with growing importance in the fields of tourism, trade and cultural exchange.
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said in the press release: "We are proud to introduce Warsaw and Prague as our newest destinations, underlining our commitment to expanding into new and exciting markets." This statement highlights that the airline is not only focusing on established markets, but is also targeting new destinations to diversify its global network and expand travel options for passengers.
Strategic importance for tourism and the economy
The new routes are not only important for business and tourism travellers, but also play a role in the UAE's long-term growth strategy. Abu Dhabi has established itself as one of the leading travel and tourism destinations in the Middle East in recent years and Etihad Airways, as the national carrier, is playing a key role in cementing this position. The new connections to Warsaw and Prague offer the airline the opportunity to bring more visitors from Central and Eastern Europe to Abu Dhabi and intensify economic and cultural ties between the countries.
With the direct flights, Etihad Airways also aims to improve connections between Europe and other important markets such as the Middle East, Asia and Australia. The new Warsaw and Prague route will not only enable direct flights between the capitals, but will also act as a transit route for passengers travelling on to Asia, the Indian subcontinent or Australia. This will open up additional growth opportunities for Etihad Airways in the highly competitive international air traffic market.
The European market in focus
The European market is playing an increasingly important role for Etihad Airways as the continent has become a key growth area for international airlines. In particular, the increasing tourist flows from Europe to the UAE offer a lot of potential. Poland and the Czech Republic have seen a sustained growth in recent years in the number of travellers wishing to explore destinations in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi offers an attractive mix of luxury resorts, cultural attractions and business opportunities that attracts the interest of European travellers.
In addition, trade relations between the UAE and Eastern European countries are also increasing. The new direct routes can boost bilateral trade by providing business travelers with easier and faster connections between these countries. This could be particularly important for the fast-growing economies of Poland and the Czech Republic, which have become dynamic exporters of industrial products, technologies and services in recent decades.
Growth strategy
The launch of the new services to Warsaw and Prague is in line with Etihad Airways' long-term growth strategy and the UAE's aspirations to act as a global hub for tourism and trade. Abu Dhabi has invested continuously in developing its tourism infrastructure and economy in recent years to attract travellers from all over the world. The UAE has positioned itself as a leading destination in the Middle East and Etihad Airways' expansion into new markets such as Poland and the Czech Republic helps to further strengthen this role.
Antonoaldo Neves stressed in his statement that the new routes "provide a great opportunity to strengthen relations with these countries and bring more visitors to Abu Dhabi". This clearly shows that the airline is not only interested in attracting new passengers, but also in promoting strategic partnerships and cooperation to create long-term economic benefits for all countries involved.
and 