Dhaka, Oct. 11 -- Abu Dhabi-based carrier Etihad Airways is to launch flights to Kabul, Afghanistan, making it the latest airline to open a route to the Afghan capital.

The new service will begin on December 18, 2025, in response to the "growing demand for travel between the UAE and Afghanistan", the Emirati carrier announced in a statement on October 10, 2025.

Etihad claims that this service will support "trade, investment and cultural exchange", while also making travel easier for large Afghan communities in the GCC, Australia, Europe, and the United States.

"Kabul represents another important step in Etihad's strategy to expand access to markets within a four-hour radius of Abu Dhabi," said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO at Etihad Airways. ...