Etihad Airways Resumes Abu Dhabi–Zanzibar Flights With A320neo After Two-Year Absence

Etihad Airways resumed passenger service between Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) in Zanzibar, Tanzania, as part of the airline's four-route expansion launched between June 11 and 14, 2026. Etihad last operated the route in 2023.

Flights are operated using the Airbus A320neo, with both the outbound and inbound legs each scheduled at five hours and 40 minutes, according to Simple Flying.

Zanzibar has become one of the fastest-growing Indian Ocean tourism destinations in recent years, attracting visitors with its white-sand beaches, UNESCO-listed Stone Town, and year-round warm climate. Growing demand from UAE-based travelers has underpinned the route's reinstatement, alongside Etihad's broader push to expand into Africa and island leisure markets.

The Zanzibar relaunch is the third of four new destinations added by Etihad across four consecutive days in June 2026 — a batch that also includes first-ever services to Kraków and Palma de Mallorca, plus a return to Damascus after 14 years. As confirmed by both Aviation Week and Etihad's own press materials, the airline is operating at 10% more capacity this summer compared with 2025, with more than 300 daily flights and more than 20 new aircraft added to its fleet.

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/4-new-routes-4-days-etihad-airways-growth
• https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-networks/routes-networks-latest-rolling-daily-updates-wc-june-15-2026