Etihad and TAROM join forces to unlock 11 Eastern European destinations
Single-ticket travel gets easier as UAE national carrier adds Romania and beyond
ABU DHABI – Etihad Airways has strengthened its presence in Eastern Europe through a new codeshare agreement with Romania’s national carrier TAROM, opening up seamless access to 11 destinations across Romania and the wider region from Abu Dhabi.
The agreement was signed during the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro and comes ahead of Etihad’s planned launch of direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Bucharest on 17 December 2026. The partnership will allow travellers to book a single ticket across both airlines’ networks, simplifying journeys between the UAE and Eastern Europe.
Bucharest gateway
Under the new arrangement, Etihad passengers arriving in Bucharest will be able to connect onwards on TAROM services to six Romanian cities: Baia Mare, Cluj-Napoca, Iasi, Oradea, Suceava and Timisoara. The codeshare also extends beyond Romania to four Eastern European capitals: Belgrade, Budapest, Chisinau and Sofia.
Once Etihad’s Abu Dhabi-Bucharest route begins operations in December, travellers will be able to complete their entire journey under a single booking, with baggage checked through to their final destination.
The move gives Etihad immediate access to a broader regional network as it enters one of Eastern Europe’s fastest-growing markets. Romania has increasingly attracted international visitors thanks to destinations such as Transylvania’s medieval towns, the Carpathian Mountains and the Danube Delta.
For Romanian travellers, the agreement creates a new link to Abu Dhabi and the wider Etihad network. Visitors arriving in the UAE capital will gain access to attractions including Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the museums within the Saadiyat Cultural District, and the emirate’s beaches and resorts.
From Abu Dhabi, passengers can continue onwards to destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia through Etihad’s global network.
Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, said the partnership gives the airline immediate scale in Eastern Europe through a long-established flag carrier with extensive regional reach. He added that launching the codeshare before the start of Etihad’s own Bucharest flights enables the airline to enter the market with strong connectivity from day one.
Etihad’s network
Mircea Nicolae Cotoros, Chief Commercial Officer at TAROM, said the agreement expands TAROM’s international reach and introduces a new connection between Bucharest and Abu Dhabi, while strengthening ties between Romania and the Middle East.
With TAROM joining its network, Etihad now works with 47 codeshare partners and more than 130 interline partners, providing travellers with single-ticket and through-fare access to more than 350 destinations worldwide. Bookings under the new partnership are available immediately through Etihad’s sales channels.