Etihad Airways to Introduce Abu Dhabi-Kabul Flights in December 2025

Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, is set to commence flights to Kabul, Afghanistan, marking the addition of another airline route to the Afghan capital.

This new flight service will launch on December 18, 2025, due to the rising demand for travel between the UAE and Afghanistan, as announced by the airline on October 10, 2025.

The airline emphasizes that this initiative will foster “trade, investment, and cultural exchange,” while simplifying travel for the significant Afghan communities located in the GCC, Australia, Europe, and the United States.

CEO Antonoaldo Neves shared, “Kabul represents another important step in Etihad’s strategy to expand access to markets within a four-hour radius of Abu Dhabi.” He added that these flights are designed to meet the strong travel demand, facilitate trade and investment, and reconnect families and communities.

The Abu Dhabi-Kabul service is planned to operate three times a week—on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays—utilizing an Airbus A320, which comprises eight Business seats and 150 Economy seats.

Flight EY310 will depart from Abu Dhabi at 14:45 local time, arriving in Kabul at 18:15 local time. The return journey, EY311, is scheduled to leave Kabul at 19:10 local time and land back in Abu Dhabi at 22:10 local time.

With Kabul becoming the 31st new route unveiled by Etihad in 2025, this move highlights the airline’s persistent commitment to investing in strategic markets throughout the Middle East and South Asia.

In recent years, air travel to Afghanistan has slowly rebounded, following the shutdown of many international flights in 2021 after the Taliban’s seizure of power in Kabul and the withdrawal of Western forces.

Currently, a handful of regional airlines are flying to Kabul. Turkish Airlines operates four weekly round-trip flights between Istanbul and the Afghan capital. Other regional carriers, including flydubai and Air Arabia, along with local airlines like Kam Air and Ariana Afghan Airlines, also maintain connections to this crucial destination.

Are you planning to travel to Afghanistan soon or interested in this new route?