Etihad Airways to launch twice-daily Kabul flights from July

Etihad Airways will increase its flights between Abu Dhabi and Kabul to twice daily from July 15, citing strong demand for travel on the route.

The expansion marks the second increase in service since the UAE national carrier launched flights to the Afghan capital in March 2026.

Etihad initially began operating four flights per week to Kabul, but growing passenger demand has prompted the airline to significantly expand capacity on the route.

“The response to our Kabul launch has been exceptional,” said Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer. “Demand has remained strong from day one, and moving to double-daily is a direct reflection of what our guests have been telling us with their bookings.”

The route is operated using Airbus A320 aircraft, configured with eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats.

The additional flights are expected to provide passengers with greater flexibility and improved connections through Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport to destinations across Europe, the Middle East and other international markets.

The increase also reflects the close links between Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates, which is home to a large Afghan community and serves as an important hub for business, trade and family travel.

Under the new schedule, Etihad will operate two daily services in each direction.

The first flight, EY312, will depart Abu Dhabi at 9:55 a.m. and arrive in Kabul at 1:25 p.m., with the return flight, EY313, leaving Kabul at 3:10 p.m. and arriving in Abu Dhabi at 6:00 p.m.

The second daily service, EY310, will depart Abu Dhabi at 2:45 p.m. and arrive in Kabul at 6:15 p.m., while EY311 will leave Kabul at 7:20 p.m. and land in Abu Dhabi at 10:10 p.m.

Etihad said the expanded schedule will offer travelers more convenient departure options and strengthen connectivity between Afghanistan and the airline’s global network.

The move also underscores Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a regional aviation hub and highlights increasing demand for air travel between the UAE and Afghanistan.