Etihad Airways launches first direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Peshawar
New flights cater to 1.5 million Pakistanis living in the UAE
ABU DHABI – Etihad Airways has inaugurated its first direct flight between Abu Dhabi and Peshawar, marking a major step in strengthening air links between the UAE and Pakistan.
The inaugural service operated with full passenger loads in both directions, underlining the high demand for travel between the two cities.
With this addition, Etihad now serves 83 destinations worldwide.
Why Peshawar?
Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, is one of Pakistan’s oldest cities, known for its cultural heritage and historic role as a centre of trade. The new route will cater to the strong travel demand from the 1.5 million Pakistanis residing in the UAE, while also enhancing connectivity for business, tourism and trade between the two countries.
Etihad now operates nonstop flights to four destinations in Pakistan: Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar. The expansion is part of the airline’s commitment to supporting the large Pakistani expatriate community in the UAE and providing greater travel flexibility across its network.
Service details
Etihad will operate five flights per week on the Abu Dhabi–Peshawar route, before increasing to daily flights from 20 November. Services will be operated with Airbus A320 aircraft, configured with 8 seats in Business Class and 150 in Economy.
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said the launch highlights the airline’s focus on expanding its global network. He noted that the new connection not only brings families and communities closer but also positions Abu Dhabi as a major destination for business and tourism.
What’s next?
The new flights to Peshawar are part of a broader expansion across South Asia, Africa and Asia-Pacific. In early October, Etihad will launch flights to Medan in Indonesia, Phnom Penh in Cambodia, Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, and Krabi in Thailand. November will see further growth with new routes to Tunis, Hanoi, Chiang Mai, Hong Kong, Algiers and Medina.