Etihad, Air India Express, Riyadh Air, and other regional carriers launched new routes and increased flight frequencies, strengthening UAE connectivity despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
WEBDESK – SHARJAH NEWS – ARABIAN BUSINESS
Despite ongoing regional tensions linked to the US-Iran conflict, airlines across the Gulf have announced new routes and expanded schedules, reinforcing demand for travel across the Middle East, Europe, and South Asia.
Between July 13 and July 15, carriers including Etihad Airways, Air India Express, Riyadh Air, Saudia, SunExpress, and Kuwait Airways announced nine route launches, route resumptions, or frequency increases, underscoring confidence in passenger demand during the peak summer travel season.
For travelers in the UAE, Etihad Airways led the expansion by doubling its Abu Dhabi–Kabul service from one to two daily flights on July 15. The national carrier said growing passenger numbers and stronger connecting traffic through Zayed International Airport prompted the additional frequency.
Etihad first resumed flights to Kabul in March and has already increased capacity twice, strengthening air links between Afghanistan and the UAE while improving connectivity for passengers traveling onward through Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi also welcomed new international services from India as Air India Express launched direct flights between Navi Mumbai and Abu Dhabi on July 15. The route marks the first scheduled international operation from Navi Mumbai International Airport, giving travelers from Mumbai’s eastern and southern suburbs another direct gateway to the UAE.
On the same day, Air India Express also resumed flights between Indore and Abu Dhabi after a suspension of more than four months, restoring an important link for business travelers, tourists, and expatriate communities.
Elsewhere in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air launched seasonal nonstop flights between Riyadh and Malaga on July 14, operating three times a week until September 8 using Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Madrid will become the airline’s second destination in Spain when services begin on July 17.
Saudia also expanded its summer schedule with seasonal flights from Riyadh to Salalah in Oman, catering to travelers visiting the popular Khareef tourism season through early September.
Turkish leisure carrier SunExpress resumed services between Antalya and Dubai on July 15 with two weekly flights and plans to increase the route to three weekly services from September. The airline also restored Izmir–Dubai flights earlier this month and will restart Trabzon–Bahrain services on July 17.
Meanwhile, Kuwait Airways resumed direct flights between Kuwait City and Damascus on July 15 after an interruption of approximately 14 years, re-establishing a key regional connection with daily scheduled services.
Industry observers say the latest network expansions demonstrate that airlines continue to respond to strong demand across leisure, business, and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segments despite geopolitical uncertainty in the region. Rather than slowing expansion plans, carriers are selectively deploying aircraft on routes with sustained passenger demand while restoring previously suspended services.
The latest announcements further strengthen the UAE’s position as a major aviation hub, with Abu Dhabi continuing to attract new international connections and increased airline capacity that supports tourism, trade, and global connectivity.
