Etihad Airways has announced the launch of direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Peshawar, starting September 29, 2025, marking a significant boost in connectivity between the UAE and Pakistan.
The route will operate five times a week initially, with plans to upgrade to daily service beginning November 22, 2025. Flights will connect Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport with Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar, making it the fourth Pakistani city on Etihad’s growing network, alongside Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.
The new service will be operated using Airbus A320 aircraft, offering eight Business Class and 150 Economy Class seats.
“We are thrilled to further expand our presence in Pakistan with the launch of our daily service between Abu Dhabi and Peshawar,” said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways. “This route reinforces our commitment to providing essential connectivity for travellers between Pakistan and global destinations across the Gulf, Africa, Europe, and North America.”
In addition to the new Peshawar route, Etihad will increase flights to Karachi to 17 per week starting October 1.
This announcement follows the airline’s recent route launches to Addis Ababa and is part of Etihad’s aggressive global expansion in 2025. New destinations this year include Prague, Warsaw, Algiers, Tunis, and Atlanta. Etihad is also increasing flight frequencies to key European hubs such as Paris, Milan, Manchester, Frankfurt, Zurich, and Madrid.
The Peshawar route is expected to cater to the large Pakistani diaspora in the UAE and bolster tourism and trade between the two nations.