Etihad Fills Wizz Air Void With Seven New Routes

Etihad Airways is expanding its network from Abu Dhabi with the addition of seven new routes that directly fill service gaps created by the imminent shutdown of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi. The new services, launching between November 2025 and March 2026, are aimed at boosting tourism and trade links to fast-growing regions previously served by the Hungarian low-cost carrier.

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, which launched in 2021 as a joint venture with ADQ, announced on July 14 that it would cease operations from Zayed International Airport (AUH) starting September 1, 2025. The decision was driven by a reassessment of its strategy due to supply chain challenges, geopolitical instability, and restricted market access. In response, Etihad is swiftly moving to occupy the market space left behind.

The UAE national carrier’s new destinations include Medina in Saudi Arabia; Tashkent in Uzbekistan; Almaty in Kazakhstan; Baku in Azerbaijan; Yerevan in Armenia; Bucharest in Romania; and Tbilisi in Georgia. All but Tbilisi were previously served by Wizz Air Abu Dhabi. With these additions, Etihad will have announced or launched 27 new routes in a single year, underscoring its aggressive growth strategy from AUH.

According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, Etihad will now compete with Air Arabia Abu Dhabi on four of these new routes—Almaty, Baku, Tbilisi, and Yerevan—adding further momentum to the growing competition at AUH.

Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves highlighted the strategic intent behind the expansion. “Our goal is clear: We want to bring more people directly to Abu Dhabi,” he said. “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.”

Here are the details of Etihad’s new services from Abu Dhabi:
Medina, Saudi Arabia – Six weekly flights starting November 9, 2025
Baku, Azerbaijan – Ten weekly flights starting March 2, 2026
Yerevan, Armenia – Ten weekly flights starting March 9, 2026
Tbilisi, Georgia – Eight weekly flights starting March 13, 2026
Almaty, Kazakhstan – Eight weekly flights starting March 16, 2026
Bucharest, Romania – Four weekly flights starting March 16, 2026
Tashkent, Uzbekistan – Six weekly flights starting March 17, 2026

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi currently operates 148 weekly departures from AUH to 25 destinations, with 17 of those routes having no other carrier. Its shutdown will leave a void in air service to several underserved markets. Etihad’s strategic move not only restores connectivity but also positions the airline to capture increased market share in routes with growing demand.

With a total of 27 new routes in one year, Etihad is reinforcing its ambition to transform Abu Dhabi into a central hub for international travel, aligning with the UAE’s broader economic diversification and tourism goals.

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