Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has announced that it will be launching direct flights from Abu Dhabi to the Russian resort city of Sochi, often described as the ‘Gateway to the Black Sea’. The carrier will operate the new 1,554-mile (2,486km) route from Abu Dhabi-Zayed International Airport (AUH) and Sochi International Airport (AER) three times per week (departing Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays) commencing May 29, 2025.
The new services have already gone on sale and will be operated by the carrier’s 16-strong fleet of Airbus A320 narrow-bodied aircraft. Each of these planes accommodates 158 passengers in a two-class configuration – eight seats in business class and 150 in economy class.
According to the airline, starting the new route in the summer of 2025 means that passengers will have easy access to the Krasnodar Krai region, which offers visitors beach resorts and mountainous areas in the Caucuses region, made famous as the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics.
The airline adds that “The Russian Riviera resort offers a mix of natural beauty and cultural history and will become a popular choice for guests seeking relaxation and adventure. This new route further underlines Etihad’s commitment to providing exceptional travel experiences and expanding access to exciting new markets.”
The announcement of the flights to Sochi is just the latest new route in a steady stream of expansion plans announced by Etihad in recent months. Indeed, the Russian city becomes the fourteenth new destination the airline will add to its network in 2024.
Etihad will also commence flights to other global cities including Atlanta, Hanoi, Hong Kong, and Taipei, as well as to the European capitals of Prague and Warsaw. Expanding its network across North Africa, Etihad will begin flying to Algiers, Tunis, and Al Alamein in 2025.
Additionally, Etihad will bolster its network across Southeast Asia, with new connections directly to popular vacation destinations including Chiang Mai and Krabi in Thailand, Medan on the island of Sumatra, and the cultural city of Phnom Penh in Cambodia. These flights join the carrier’s existing services across Southeast Asia including Phuket and Bangkok.
Elsewhere, the Gulf-based airline will also commence direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Nairobi in Kenya, plus also recently announced the signing of a codeshare deal with Kazakhstan-based carrier Air Astana. According to ch-aviation, the airline’s fleet currently stands at 104 aircraft in total with a further 98 on order which includes 20 Airbus A321LRs, 15 A350-1000s, eight Boeing 777-8s, 17 777-9s, 20 787-10s, and a further eight 787-9s.
