Etihad Airways Launches Abu Dhabi–Kraków Route, UAE's First Direct Air Link to Poland's Cultural Capital

Etihad Airways launched three-weekly nonstop service between Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) and John Paul II International Airport Kraków–Balice (KRK) on June 11, 2026, marking the first direct air link between Abu Dhabi and Poland's second-largest city.

Flights are operated with the Airbus A321LR configured in a premium 160-seat layout including a first class cabin — a significantly lower density than the standard A321neo. By comparison, flydubai has served Kraków from Dubai since 2018 using the Boeing 737 MAX 8 in up to twice-daily frequencies, but no UAE carrier had previously served the city from Abu Dhabi.

Kraków is Poland's primary inbound tourist destination, drawing millions of visitors annually to its medieval old town, Kazimierz Jewish Quarter, and proximity to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial. The route provides Middle Eastern and transit passengers with a direct gateway to southern Poland, while connecting Central Europe to Etihad's global network through Zayed International Airport.

According to Simple Flying, the Kraków service is brand-new to Etihad's route map — not a resumption of a previous service. The launch is part of Etihad's four-new-destination expansion in June 2026, which the airline describes as its biggest summer ever, with more than 300 daily flights and capacity up 10% year-on-year, as confirmed by Aviation Week.

Sources

• https://www.etihad.com/en/news/etihad-enters-its-biggest-summer-yet-with-10-more-capacity-four-new-destinations-and-five-returning-seasonal-favourites
• https://simpleflying.com/notable-airline-routes-212
• https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-networks/routes-networks-latest-rolling-daily-updates-wc-june-15-2026