Emirates and Etihad add new destinations including Helsinki and Calgary, while Air Arabia expands its European network.
Dubai: UAE-based carriers are accelerating expansion plans in 2026, with Emirates, Etihad, Air Arabia, and flydubai rolling out new routes across Europe, North America, Central Asia, and beyond.
Travellers in the UAE will see direct flights to Helsinki and Calgary for the first time, while Etihad is adding several new destinations from its Abu Dhabi hub, further strengthening the country’s global connectivity.
Etihad: More routes, more services
Etihad Airways is set to introduce an extensive lineup of new routes in 2026, expanding its network from its Abu Dhabi hub and strengthening connectivity across key international markets.
The airline will introduce flights to a mix of cultural capitals and emerging markets, with several launches scheduled from March onwards, including Baku, Yerevan, Tbilisi, Almaty, Bucharest, and Tashkent.
In addition to these year-round routes, seasonal summer services will operate to Palma de Mallorca and Zanzibar City. A new link to Charlotte will further expand the airline’s growing transatlantic network.
Damascus flights
Etihad Airways will resume services to Damascus four times a week starting June 2026, reinforcing links with communities and trade across the region.
“This new route reflects our commitment to connecting people to the places that matter most,” said Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves.
He added that with trade between the United Arab Emirates and Syria growing steadily — and with a vibrant Syrian community contributing to the UAE’s prosperity — the restored flights will further strengthen social, cultural, and economic ties.
Meanwhile, a strategic partnership with Condor will introduce daily services from Frankfurt and Berlin to Abu Dhabi, expanding inbound connectivity for European travellers.
Emirates: New European, North American links
Emirates continues to refine and expand its 2026 schedule with several key additions. A standout launch is a daily non-stop service between Dubai and Helsinki, marking the first direct air link between the UAE and Finland.
Beyond Scandinavia, Emirates plans to introduce a four-times-weekly non-stop route to Calgary, operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The new service will directly connect Western Canada with the UAE, catering to both leisure travellers and industries such as energy and tourism.
In Europe, the airline is also set to launch three weekly flights to Luxembourg City, further strengthening its continental footprint.
Alongside new destinations, Emirates will boost frequencies on existing long-haul routes, including Tokyo, offering greater flexibility on high-demand city pairs.
Flydubai: Expansion in the cards
flydubai is continuing to expand its European footprint, building on momentum from a series of recent route launches.
The carrier has added destinations including Iași, Riga, Vilnius, and Chișinău — markets that previously had limited or no direct links to Dubai.
These routes support both point-to-point travel and connecting traffic into the long-haul network of Emirates, a partnership that has become central to Dubai’s aviation strategy.
While additional 2026 announcements are expected, the trajectory is clear: a stronger focus on secondary European cities, greater direct connectivity, and a continued expansion of options for passengers flying out of Dubai.
Air Arabia travels further West
Air Arabia is strengthening its UK presence with the launch of twice-daily non-stop flights between Sharjah and London Gatwick, one of Europe’s busiest hubs. The service will be operated using Airbus A321neo LR aircraft.
The new route offers travellers in the Northern Emirates a convenient way to reach the British capital without transiting through Dubai or Abu Dhabi, while also supporting inbound tourism to the UAE.
The flights will be operated using the Airbus A321neo LR, an aircraft that allows the airline to serve longer routes while preserving its low-cost model. The increased capacity reflects Air Arabia’s ongoing strategy to gauge demand for affordable medium- and long-haul travel from the UAE.
