Etihad Expands Asia Network from Abu Dhabi with Daily Taipei, Hanoi, Medan

(ABU DHABI) Etihad Airways will launch seven new Asia routes from Abu Dhabi between September and November 2025—adding daily flights to Taipei and Hanoi, new services to Medan, Phnom Penh, Krabi, Chiang Mai, and Hong Kong—and will follow with additional routes into Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Europe through early 2026. The carrier said the expansion forms part of its largest network growth to date, designed to draw more than a million new visitors to the UAE capital in 2025 while deepening Abu Dhabi’s role as a regional and long-haul hub.

According to Etihad’s published schedule, the first wave starts on September 7, 2025, with daily Taipei service, and continues through November with a mix of Boeing 787 and Airbus A321LR operations across the Asia routes.

Launch dates, frequencies and aircraft

Etihad Airways has set specific start dates and frequencies for each city:

• Taipei (TPE): daily from September 7, 2025, Boeing 787.
• Medan (KNO): three weekly from October 2, 2025, Airbus A321LR.
• Phnom Penh (PNH): five weekly from October 3, 2025, Airbus A321LR.
• Krabi (KBV): daily from October 9, 2025, Airbus A321LR.
• Chiang Mai (CNX): four weekly from November 3, 2025, Airbus A321LR.
• Hanoi (HAN): daily from November 3, 2025, Airbus A321LR.
• Hong Kong (HKG): five weekly from November 3, 2025, Boeing 787.
• Medina: six weekly from November 9, 2025 (Middle East route).

Planned March 2026 wave (frequencies listed):
– Baku: ten weekly
– Yerevan: ten weekly
– Tbilisi: eight weekly
– Almaty: eight weekly
– Bucharest: four weekly
– Tashkent: six weekly

Important: Etihad says schedules are subject to change and tickets are being released in phases. Not all dates or inventory may appear immediately in booking systems.

Strategic purpose and scale

Chief Executive Antonoaldo Neves framed the move as a strategic push to position Abu Dhabi as a premier global hub for tourism, business, and cultural exchange. He said the aim is to support trade flows and bring more visitors to local hotels, venues, and attractions as the city invests in hospitality and airport capacity.

Key program highlights:
– Fleet to exceed 110 aircraft in 2025 (including A321LRs and Boeing 787s).
– Network reaching more than 90 destinations in over 50 countries.
– Target of drawing over a million new visitors to Abu Dhabi in 2025.

Company statements emphasize benefits for leisure travelers, business passengers, and people visiting family across Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Central Asia.

Ticketing, loyalty and passenger information

• Ticket sales for the new Asia routes are moving in phases; many fares are already available through Etihad’s official channels and authorized travel agents.
• Travelers can check schedules, availability, and manage bookings on the airline’s website: Etihad.com.
• Etihad expects increased activity in the Etihad Guest loyalty program, with promotions anticipated as the network grows.

Route-level rationale and passenger benefits

The Asia routes were chosen to balance demand, connectivity, and aircraft capability:

• Taipei: daily Boeing 787 link to a key technology and trade center—supports both business and leisure demand.
• Hanoi: daily A321LR link to a market with growing trade and tourism ties to the Gulf.
• Hong Kong: five-weekly Boeing 787 service to a major financial gateway, boosting one-stop connections to the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.
• Krabi: daily A321LR service feeding popular Thai beach destinations.
• Chiang Mai: four-weekly A321LR connection to northern Thailand’s cultural and educational hub.
• Phnom Penh: five-weekly A321LR placing Cambodia’s capital on Etihad’s map for business and tourism.
• Medan: three-weekly A321LR adding a secondary Indonesian city and widening Southeast Asia reach.

Practical passenger benefits:
– More flight choice across business calendars, school breaks, religious seasons, and family events.
– Daily services give flexibility for short trips or longer stays; multi-week patterns suit less-frequent travelers.
– Improved connection timing for frequent flyers and better options for families and small businesses.

Fleet deployment strategy

Etihad matches aircraft to route demand:

• Airbus A321LR: used for many Southeast Asian services (Medan, Phnom Penh, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Hanoi) where medium-haul range and capacity are optimal.
• Boeing 787: used for Taipei and Hong Kong, where higher demand and longer sectors favor the 787’s range and comfort.

This approach aims to maintain consistent product, control costs, and ensure reliability while supporting shorter overall journey times through Abu Dhabi.

Airport readiness and infrastructure

Etihad and Abu Dhabi officials say Zayed International Airport (AUH) is preparing for more passengers and flights. Industry watchers expect infrastructure improvements to handle the airline’s growth, with potential benefits including:
– Shorter transit times.
– More seamless transfers across terminals.
– Better experiences for families and passengers needing assistance.

The expansion follows network optimization and post-pandemic recovery, and reflects steady demand between the Middle East and Asia.

Economic and community impacts

Local benefits anticipated:
– Fuller hotel bookings, more meetings and events, and diversified visitor profiles.
– Increased options for tour operators, schools, hospitals (medical travel), and small businesses.
– Easier travel for students, families, and religious travelers (Medina route).

Trade groups argue reliable air links drive real economic benefits; this timetable indicates Abu Dhabi’s commitment to that path for 2025 and 2026.

Operational considerations and analysis

Industry analysts note:
– The expansion diversifies Etihad’s network and captures growing markets in Asia.
– Abu Dhabi’s location enables attractive one-stop connections between Asia, Europe, and Africa.
– Launching routes with higher-than-usual initial frequencies (e.g., ten weekly for Baku, Yerevan) creates connection opportunities and can stabilize load factors.

VisaVerge.com reports the scale—27 new routes announced or launched in 2025—is unusual today and signals strong confidence in Abu Dhabi’s hub strategy.

Practical advice for travelers

• Book early: seats are being released in phases and popular dates may sell out quickly.
• Check entry requirements: visa rules depend on nationality and destination and may change. Official UAE guidance is available at the UAE Government visa portal.
• Monitor Etihad’s updates and booking channels for schedule changes, promotions, and Etihad Guest offers: Etihad.com.

Reminder: Etihad will continue to monitor demand and may adjust frequencies or add destinations based on performance and market trends. Schedules can shift due to operational needs; travelers should confirm timing before departure.

Summary timeline and quick reference

Numbered rollout highlights:
1. September 7, 2025 — Taipei: daily, Boeing 787.
2. October 2, 2025 — Medan: three weekly, A321LR.
3. October 3, 2025 — Phnom Penh: five weekly, A321LR.
4. October 9, 2025 — Krabi: daily, A321LR.
5. November 3, 2025 — Chiang Mai: four weekly, A321LR; Hanoi: daily, A321LR; Hong Kong: five weekly, Boeing 787.
6. November 9, 2025 — Medina: six weekly.
7. March 2026 — Baku (ten weekly), Yerevan (ten weekly), Tbilisi (eight weekly), Almaty (eight weekly), Bucharest (four weekly), Tashkent (six weekly).

Etihad stresses that these schedules are subject to change and advises travelers to follow its newsroom and booking channels for final details.

Where to get official information

• Booking, schedules and promotions: Etihad.com
• UAE visa and entry guidance: UAE Government visa portal

Etihad will publish updates through its newsroom and customer service channels as launch dates approach.