Etihad Airways has launched a new route between Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and Nairobi, Kenya, marking the 10th new destination in the airline’s expanding 2024 network.
The new service was launched on December 15, 2024, and will create “a vital connection between the UAE’s capital and one of Africa’s most dynamic cities,” according to the airline’s press release.
The new route will connect Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH) with Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). It will operate four times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, using an Airbus A320 aircraft.
“The introduction of our Nairobi service enhances our growing network while responding to strong travel demand between the UAE and Kenya,” said Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways. “As both Abu Dhabi and Kenya experience remarkable tourism growth and set ambitious targets for the future, this route creates valuable opportunities for both destinations.”
The launch comes “at a significant time for Kenya’s tourism sector,” Etihad said. With visitor numbers expected to reach three million in 2024 and targets of five million visitors in the coming years, Kenya’s tourism industry “is on a strong growth trajectory”, the airline added.
The Nairobi launch follows the introduction of new services to Antalya, Bali, Boston, Jaipur, Kozhikode, Mykonos, Nice, Qassim, and Thiruvananthapuram in 2024.
Starting from 2025, Etihad will add 13 new destinations with flights to Warsaw and Prague in June, Al Alamein and Atlanta in July, Taipei in September, Medan, Phnom Penh, and Krabi in October, and Tunis, Chiang Mai, Hong Kong, Hanoi, and Algiers in November.