Etihad Airways has inaugurated a seasonal direct route from Krakow to Abu Dhabi, marking the first connection from Poland’s largest regional airport to the United Arab Emirates. The flights, operating three times a week until early September, use modern Airbus A321LR aircraft configured for 160 passengers across three classes.
The inaugural flight took place on Thursday, June 11, 2026, as part of the carrier’s summer schedule. Krakow becomes the second Polish city after Warsaw to be served by the Gulf airline. Passengers flying from Balice will gain access to Etihad’s global network via Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi.
Gateway to Asia and Australia
The new route offers travelers from southern Poland convenient connections to destinations such as Bangkok, Sydney, Singapore, Mumbai, Manila and the Maldives. – This direct link to Abu Dhabi provides seamless onward travel to Asia, the Indian subcontinent and Australia – said Łukasz Strutyński, president of Krakow Airport.
Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive officer of Etihad Airways, commented on the choice of Krakow. – Krakow is one of Europe’s great cultural cities with a strong business community and a natural fit for our European network – he added.
Record passenger numbers at Krakow Airport
In May 2026 alone, Krakow-Balice handled 1.34 million passengers. The cumulative figure for the first five months of the year reached 5.59 million, putting the airport on track to serve approximately 15 million passengers by the end of 2026. The new Etihad service is expected to further boost these numbers during the peak summer season.
Etihad Airways operates from Abu Dhabi to over 70 destinations worldwide, and the Krakow addition strengthens its presence in Central and Eastern Europe. The airline has been expanding its European network in response to growing demand for travel to the Middle East and onward connections.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. materiały prasowe / Kraków Airport / materiały prasowe
