UAE-based airlines have experienced substantial expansion in their global networks this year. As of the end of Q1 2024, they have extended their reach to around 603 destinations worldwide, marking an increase from the 586 destinations served at the end of 2023.
Now, as the summer travel season fast approaches, airlines in the UAE are gearing up for what is predicted to be one of the country’s busiest. According to recent data from Skyscanner, an overwhelming 92 percent of UAE residents are planning a summer vacation abroad.
To meet the high demand, UAE airlines are actively expanding their networks with new and reinstated routes. If you’re looking to explore a new destination from the UAE this year, here are some of the newest flight routes to consider.
Etihad Airways
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has announced a further expansion of its network, following significant growth that saw the airline reach approximately 76 destinations by the end of Q1 2024. This included daily non-stop flights to Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram in India’s Kerala region.
Starting this month, Etihad will also launch new routes to popular European destinations, including Malaga, Santorini, Nice, and Mykonos. The airline will operate three weekly flights to Antalya, Turkey, and four weekly flights to Jaipur, India.
In addition to these new routes, Etihad is strengthening its presence in key destinations, with an increase in the number of flights to Cairo, Colombo, Islamabad, and the Maldives.
The airline also recently launched direct flights to Boston, USA, Bali, Indonesia, and Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia as part of its expansion plan to reach 125 destinations by 2030.
Emirates Airlines
Dubai air-carrier, Emirates Airlines has announced new routes to its network of over 150 global destinations. Further expanding its reach in South America, Emirates recently launched a daily service to Bogotá, Colombia. The flight which operates via Miami has become the airline’s fourth gateway in South America, joining São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Buenos Aires.
Starting from September, Emirates will introduce flights to Africa’s largest island, Madagascar via a connected service in the Seychelles. The four-weekly flights will operate between Dubai and Antananarivo and will improve connections from Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
In addition, the Dubai-based carrier has reinstated flights to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with a daily scheduled flight via Singapore.
In the coming months, Emirates will reinstate direct flights to Edinburgh and also resume daily services between Lagos and Dubai starting October.
Flydubai
Flydubai has been experiencing a significant rise in passenger numbers since the beginning of the year. To meet the growing demand, flydubai is set to launch flights to several new destinations in Europe this month, including cities like Basel, Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius.
In addition, the airline is expanding its footprint in Southeast Asia, with recently launched flights to four destinations in the region, including Krabi and Pattaya in Thailand.
Earlier this year, Flydubai became the first airline to offer direct daily flights from Dubai to Langkawi and Penang, two popular islands in Malaysia.
The airline has also launched direct flights to the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia and Mombasa, the second-largest city in Kenya. Volgograd and Poznań in Russia are also among the newly launched direct flights by the airline.
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has been growing its network to meet the increasing demand for affordable travel, reaching a total of 40 destinations by the end of Q1 2024. The UAE’s low-fare airline recently introduced a new direct flight from Abu Dhabi to Sphinx International Airport in Cairo, operating four times a week. Additionally, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi expanded its Central Asian network with the launch of Turkistan, its third Kazakh destination after Almaty and Nur Sultan.
Popular destinations among Wizz Air Abu Dhabi’s network include Muscat, Salalah, Alexandria, Athens, Santorini, Almaty, Malé, and Dammam. The airline continues to enhance its modern and sustainable fleet with ambitious plans to launch flights to new destinations.
Air Arabia
Air Arabia has announced the launch of direct flights from Sharjah to Krakow in Poland, starting June 29. The carrier also resumed flights between Sharjah and Jazan in Saudi Arabia earlier this month.
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi is also enhancing Abu Dhabi’s connectivity with the world by offering direct flights to 29 destinations. Some of the popular destinations on the airline’s network include Cairo, Colombo, Alexandria, Beirut, Tbilisi, and Chennai.
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