For enhanced connectivity, Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is set to double its flights to Nairobi, Kenya. This significant move will mark a major milestone in its ambitious African expansion.
According to Simple Flying, Etihad Airways will increase its service from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) to Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) to twice-daily (14 weekly) flights from December 15, 2025.
The announcement comes just over four months after the airline relaunched flights to Nairobi. In 2025, Etihad will increase its footprint in Africa, with new routes and enhanced frequencies to its current destinations. As of April 2025, the airline plans to offer nearly 50 flights to Africa by the end of the year.
Etihad relaunched flights to Nairobi in December 2025 . It last operated flights to the Kenyan capital in 2021 with the 787 Dreamliner. It initially planned to start the route on May 1, 2024 , but the launch was postponed to December. The nonstop service currently runs four times weekly with the Airbus A320 and is scheduled to increase to daily later in the year. The latest frequency enhancement is in response to growing demand.
Starting in December, Etihad’s first flight (EY767) will run daily, departing Abu Dhabi at 08:45 and arriving in Nairobi at 12:55 local time. The return flight (EY768) will depart Nairobi at 13:50 and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 19:50. The second daily flight (EY769) departs Abu Dhabi at 02:05, arriving in Nairobi at 06:15. The return service departs the Kenyan capital at 07:15, arriving in the Emirati capital at 13:15. Etihad Airways Chief Revenue Officer Arik De said, “We’re encouraged by the positive early results and are pleased to announce the expansion of our Nairobi service to 14 weekly flights, as well as the increase of our Seychelles service to six weekly flights in partnership with Air Seychelles. We’re also introducing daily 787 services to Casablanca and Johannesburg.”
Etihad has been working to increase its footprint in Africa . Over the past year, it has focused on expanding its fleet to offer more capacity, increasing frequencies, and forming key partnerships on the continent. According to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, Etihad currently flies to five African destinations, offering up to 22 flights per week. However, its footprint will gradually increase throughout the year. In 2024, as part of its record single-day announcement , the airline introduced Tunis and Algiers as its latest destinations in North Africa. The airline will also launch flights to El Alamein, Egypt , and Addis Ababa as part of a joint venture with Africa’s largest carrier, Ethiopian Airlines.
Additionally, Etihad will collaborate with its Indian Ocean codeshare partner, Air Seychelles, to offer six weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Mahé. Furthermore, Johannesburg and Casablanca will see three additional weekly flights, becoming daily services. Etihad’s planned schedules to Africa are as follows:
Last month, Etihad and Ethiopian Airlines signed a landmark joint venture to boost connectivity between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. As part of the collaboration, the Ethiopian national carrier will launch flights to Abu Dhabi on July 15, while the UAE national carrier flies to Addis Ababa from October 1. Subject to regulatory approval, the partnership will enable both airlines to collaborate in expanding routes between the UAE and Ethiopia.
The joint venture also includes a codeshare partnership, allowing more seamless travel for passengers across both networks. Travelers will enjoy smoother journeys when flying to various African destinations like Dar es Salaam and Lusaka, as well as key cities in the UAE and Asia, including Etihad’s new routes to Phnom Penh and Krabi. Ethiopian Airlines currently serves Dubai and will launch flights to Sharjah, UAE.
Etihad also entered a codeshare with Air Seychelles, allowing customers to travel on a single ticket from all its destinations to Mahé, Seychelles. Passengers can also seamlessly connect to Praslin and Mauritius with Air Seychelles. Overall, 2025 will be a year of growth for Etihad in Africa, reflecting the continuing development of air transport on the continent .
