Etihad Airways To Launch Direct Abu Dhabi–Kabul Flights In December
Etihad Airways has announced that it will begin operating direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Kabul from 18 December 2025, marking the airline’s return to the Afghan capital.
Company officials said there will be three round-trip flights per week, on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, with return journeys scheduled for the same day.
Etihad Airways CEO Antonoaldo Neves said the addition of Kabul is part of the airline’s broader strategy to expand access to regional markets. He said that these flights will open new opportunities for trade, investment and family reunions.
According to the Afghan Business Council, nearly 300,000 Afghan citizens live and work in the United Arab Emirates, which remains one of the main hubs for Afghan migration, trade and business in the Gulf region.
Several UAE-based carriers previously operated flights on the Abu Dhabi–Kabul route before the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
