(PRAGUE) Etihad Airways is pushing deeper into Central Europe, but talk of daily Prague service in 2026 or a double-daily Dublin schedule remains unconfirmed. As of 16 September 2025, the airline’s concrete moves are clear: a new four-times-weekly Prague route that launched in June, a matching four-times-weekly Warsaw start, and a planned frequency increase to Dublin in the northern summer of 2026. What’s missing is any official statement from the airline or the airports to support daily Prague or double-daily Dublin next year.
Current schedule details
The Prague service began on 2 June 2025, linking Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Prague (PRG) with four weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Etihad uses a Boeing 787-9 with 290 seats (28 in Business, 262 in Economy).
- Flight timings:
- EY 155: departs AUH 02:45, arrives PRG 07:15
- EY 156: departs PRG 11:20, arrives AUH 19:05
These timings place the aircraft in Prague during a high-demand morning window and allow same-day connections in Abu Dhabi to South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia.
The Abu Dhabi–Warsaw route began on 3 June 2025, also at four weekly flights using the same 787-9. Scheduled times aim for morning arrivals in Poland with midday departures back to the UAE, designed to feed connections to India, the Gulf, and Asia.
Airport and airline comments
- Prague Airport’s CEO, Jiří Pos, welcomed the new long-haul link as a boost for tourism and trade between the Middle East and Central Europe.
- Etihad’s commercial leadership described the route as a “bridge between two extraordinary regions,” framing it as part of a broader growth plan.
However, neither Etihad nor the airports have confirmed moving to daily service in 2026. Etihad’s schedules and booking channels continue to show four weekly flights into late 2025. Aviation analysts say increasing to daily would require sustained demand growth from both leisure and corporate sectors and healthy connecting flows beyond Abu Dhabi.
Dublin and 2026 expectations
Dublin is slightly different: Etihad has stated it will raise frequencies for the summer 2026 timetable (typically starting in late March). Key points:
- The airline has not specified how many weekly flights it will add.
- There is no official confirmation of a double-daily Dublin pattern (14 weekly flights).
- Industry chatter suggests a move to daily or near-daily is more likely than an immediate jump to double-daily.
- Dublin Airport has not disclosed exact plans.
Why Central Europe matters
The network shift into Central Europe is significant because all three Gulf carriers now serve Prague and Warsaw, increasing competition for long-haul traffic that previously transited Western Europe’s hubs.
Benefits:
– For Czech and Polish travelers, nonstop to Abu Dhabi shortens travel time and adds one-stop access to long-haul markets.
– For Etihad, these routes help fill seats by combining local point-to-point demand with connecting passengers to the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia.
Onboard product and hub experience
The 787-9 offers:
– Lie-flat Business seats
– Refreshed Economy cabins
– Wi‑Fi and broad entertainment choices
Abu Dhabi’s hub layout supports fast transfers, and Etihad markets stopover deals to ease long connections. These product and operational features matter for travelers choosing between Etihad, Emirates, and Qatar Airways.
Analysis and industry context
According to VisaVerge.com, Gulf carriers are targeting mid-size European capitals where outbound tourism and small- to mid-sized business travel are growing but where long-haul nonstops remain limited. The formula works best when an airline can harvest both local travellers and connecting flows. The Prague launch meets those criteria, though four weekly flights leave gaps that some business travellers find restrictive.
A cautionary view on capacity:
– Moving to double-daily Dublin would require two daily flights throughout the summer season, sustained high load factors, and strong yields.
– A step to daily is the more natural next move; a sudden leap to double-daily would likely follow a proven period of consistently full flights.
For Prague, daily service would ease business travel and improve aircraft utilization. But daily flights also raise costs and risk if shoulder periods are weak. The pragmatic route is to build demand with four weekly flights, monitor peak and off-peak performance, then scale when metrics (load factors, revenue per seat, cargo) justify it.
Practical effects for travellers
- The AUH–PRG arrival at 07:15 supports business day trips across Central Europe and weekend leisure breaks from the UAE and beyond.
- The PRG–AUH departure at 11:20 supports onward flights to India and Southeast Asia later in the day.
- Any increase to Dublin in summer 2026 should ease seat shortages during peak months and broaden choices to the Middle East and Asia — but without confirmation, expect improved choice, not a surge of new seats.
What different traveller groups should expect
- Leisure travellers (Czech Republic): More options to the UAE, Maldives, Thailand, Indonesia, and Australia via a single stop in Abu Dhabi. Competition may improve prices.
- Irish travellers: A summer 2026 frequency boost should help during school holidays and major events, but double-daily Dublin is not confirmed.
- Business community: New corporate travel patterns, especially for firms trading with the Gulf or South Asia; however, four weekly flights can be restrictive for short-notice trips.
- Students and families: More one-stop routes to Asia may make home visits cheaper and simpler during peak seasons.
Recommended actions for travellers and employers
- Watch for Etihad timetable updates for the late-March 2026 switch to summer schedules.
- Compare connection times in Abu Dhabi across different days to avoid long layovers.
- Book early for holidays and major events, especially on the Prague and Dublin routes where capacity remains tight.
- Keep visa documents in order based on destination; route changes do not change entry rules.
Visa and border rules reminder
Etihad’s route expansion does not change visa or border policies.
- Czech and Polish citizens continue to travel to the UAE under existing visa-on-arrival or e-visa arrangements set by the UAE.
- UAE citizens traveling to the Schengen Area must follow EU rules.
For official Schengen short-stay visa guidance, consult the European Commission’s page: European Commission – Schengen visa policy.
Airport and local economic impacts
- Prague Airport views long-haul links as vital to growth; Etihad’s arrival fills a long-haul gap and balances competition with Emirates and Qatar Airways.
- Warsaw’s growth story is similar, offering Polish travellers another path to Asia without routing through Western Europe.
- Ripple effects include more inbound visitors from the Gulf and Asia, supporting hotels and local businesses.
Bottom line
- The only confirmed change for 2026 at this point is a Dublin frequency increase; every other idea — including daily Prague and double-daily Dublin — remains unconfirmed.
- Etihad is clearly in a build phase in Central Europe, but until the airline or the airports publish exact numbers, those service levels are plans or possibilities, not schedules.
For passengers: enjoy the added choice available today, and check back before you finalize future travel plans.
This Article in a Nutshell
Etihad launched four-times-weekly Abu Dhabi–Prague and Abu Dhabi–Warsaw services in June 2025 using Boeing 787-9 aircraft, aiming to combine local point-to-point demand with connecting traffic to South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Prague flights operate on a morning arrival and midday departure schedule to enable same-day onward connections. Etihad has announced a frequency increase to Dublin for summer 2026 but has not confirmed how many additional weekly services; industry speculation about daily Prague or double-daily Dublin remains unverified. Airports praise the links for tourism and trade benefits, while analysts say any capacity increases will depend on sustained demand, high load factors, and revenue performance. Travellers should monitor official timetable updates, book early for peak seasons, and check connection times through Abu Dhabi.
