Etihad Airways is having its biggest summer on record: over 300 daily flights, 10% more capacity than last year, and nine new or returning destinations launched within days of each other.
Etihad New or Resumed Routes from Abu Dhabi
All five of these routes depart from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport and are part of Etihad’s summer 2026 expansion.
| Destination | Launch | Frequency | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salalah, Oman | 21 May 2026 | 2x weekly → daily from 15 Jun | A320 |
| Kraków, Poland | 16 Jun 2026 | 3x weekly (Tue / Thu / Sat) | A321LR |
| Palma de Mallorca, Spain | 12 Jun 2026 | 3x weekly (Tue / Fri / Sun) | A321LR |
| Damascus, Syria | 12 Jun 2026 | 4x weekly | A320 |
| Zanzibar, Tanzania | 14 Jun 2026 | 4x weekly | A320 |
Etihad Seasonal Routes Are Back
In the same week as the new route launches, Etihad brought back five beloved summer destinations, adding a full sweep of Mediterranean and European coastal routes to the summer schedule.
| Destination | Flying From | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Mykonos, Greece | 15 Jun 2026 | 2x weekly |
| Malaga, Spain | 15 Jun 2026 | Up to 4x weekly |
| Santorini, Greece | 16 Jun 2026 | 2x weekly |
| Nice, France | 19 Jun 2026 | 2x weekly |
| Al Alamein, Egypt | 16 Jul 2026 | 2x weekly |
Free Medical Travel Insurance for Abu Dhabi Visitors
Etihad and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi have launched a new perk for international travellers: complimentary medical travel insurance for eligible international visitors flying into Abu Dhabi on Etihad-operated flights, available from July to December 2026.
The cover is administered by The National Insurance Company – Daman and provides up to 15 days of medical expenses in the UAE. It also applies to passengers using Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Stopover programme, which converts a layover into a short UAE holiday at no extra airfare cost.
The initiative applies to eligible international visitors arriving on qualifying Etihad flights. Check the Etihad Stopover page for full details on combining this with a UAE visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salalah worth visiting in summer 2026?
Yes — Salalah is specifically at its best in summer, when the Khareef monsoon (roughly June to September) transforms the region into a lush green landscape with waterfalls and cool mountain air, a stark contrast to the rest of the Gulf. Etihad now operates daily flights from Abu Dhabi on the A320, making it the easiest it’s ever been to reach from the UAE.
Are Etihad’s Greek island flights nonstop from Abu Dhabi?
Yes — Mykonos and Santorini are both served as direct, nonstop seasonal routes from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport. Both operate twice weekly during the summer season.
Does the free medical insurance cover all Etihad routes or only certain ones?
The complimentary medical travel insurance applies to eligible international visitors arriving in Abu Dhabi on qualifying Etihad-operated flights — it is not restricted to specific routes. It covers up to 15 days of medical expenses in the UAE and is active from July to December 2026.
When do Etihad’s summer seasonal routes end?
Most of the new summer routes operate through early September 2026 — Kraków until September 5, Zanzibar until September 6, and Salalah until September 15. Palma de Mallorca runs until mid-September. The returning seasonal routes (Mykonos, Malaga, Santorini, Nice) are expected to operate through the summer season; check etihad.com for exact end dates on each route.
Sources
- Etihad Airways — Etihad enters its biggest summer yet: official press release (15 June 2026)
- Etihad Airways — Krakow and Salalah route announcement with official flight schedules
- Etihad Airways — Current flight offers and promotions
- Gulf News — Etihad launches flight sale with up to 30% off summer fares (May 2026)
- The National — Etihad adds Damascus, Zanzibar, Kraków and Palma in busiest summer yet
- IndexBox — Etihad Airways launches largest summer season with record flights and new routes (June 2026)
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