Etihad Airways to double Abu...

UAE airline expands Africa network as demand grows

The UAE’s national carrier Etihad Airways will add an extra daily flight from Abu Dhabi in the UAE to Nairobi in Kenya due to increased demand.

The move comes less than a year after Etihad resumed flights to the Kenyan capital, and amid plans to double its route network to the African continent, with the introduction of four new destinations in 2025 and increased frequencies.

The expanded service will double flights to the African city with 14 weekly services from 15 December 2025.

Flights depart Zayed International Airport (AUH) at 08:45, arriving in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) at 12:55. The return service will leave NBO at 13:50, landing in AUH at 17:50 local time. The second service departs AUH at 02:05, arriving in NBO at 06:15. It then leaves NOB at 07:15, landing in AUH at 13:15.

A prominent East African business hub known as the ‘Green City in the Sun’, Nairobi is home to a national park and numerous cultural attractions, from museums to art galleries, and serves as a gateway to Kenya’s wildlife destinations.

Nairobi skyline

Already serving five African destinations – Johannesburg, South Africa; Cairo, Egypt; Mahe, Seychelles; Casablanca, Morocco; and Nairobi, Kenya – Etihad will also roll out four more new routes across Africa.

Starting 17 July, the airline will connect Abu Dhabi and Al Alamein in Egypt with two flights a week, then from 8 October will add a daily service to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, thanks to a landmark Joint Venture agreement with Ethiopian Airlines, set to transform connectivity between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Flights will then roll out to Tunis in Tunisia, three per week, and Algiers in Algeria, four per week, from 1 and 7 November, respectively.

Increased passenger demand will also see the airline boost services to three other Africa destinations, including Mahe in the Seychelles with six flights per week (up from four) from 24 May.

Starting 1 August, services to Johannesburg in South Africa and Casablanca in Morocco will increase to daily 787 services.

By December 2025, Etihad will substantially grow its footprint in Africa with additional flights between Abu Dhabi and the continent compared to December 2024.

Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, commented: “At Etihad, we have long recognised the need to strengthen our presence in Africa. Over the past year, we have been focusing on a holistic approach that enhances our presence by expanding our fleet, increasing frequencies, and forming key partnerships.”

"Together with Air Seychelles and our groundbreaking relationship with Ethiopian Airlines, these strategic partnerships form a key foundation as we add four new direct routes to Africa from Abu Dhabi this year, underlining our growing commitment to service the dynamic continent."

For more information, visit www.etihad.ae

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