Dubai, UAE — April 2026 — The national airline of the UAE, Etihad Airways, has announced it will launch a seasonal service to Dhaka, Bangladesh, beginning 26 June 2026.
According to the Emirates News Agency, the new route is designed to strengthen trade and cargo links across the South Asia corridor while responding to strong and sustained demand for travel and logistics between the UAE and Bangladesh.
Operating four times weekly to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the service will enhance connectivity between Abu Dhabi and Bangladesh. Beyond passenger travel, it supports the continued expansion of cargo flows across Etihad’s global network, with Abu Dhabi serving as a key gateway for trade between South Asia and international markets.
The route will be operated by Etihad’s Boeing 777 aircraft, featuring 28 Business class seats and 374 Economy seats. The widebody bellyhold capacity provides significant room for growing cargo flows alongside passenger demand—a critical advantage on a route vital for trade, business connectivity, and family travel. The seasonal service is part of Etihad’s phased approach to rebuilding and expanding its network, deploying capacity in line with demand across key markets.
Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad’s chief executive officer, said: “Dhaka is a strategically important market, with strong and sustained demand across both passenger and cargo segments. This service allows us to deploy capacity where it is most needed, strengthening trade flows between Bangladesh, the UAE and key global markets. The route plays an important role in supporting export-driven industries, particularly in sectors such as textiles, while enhancing Abu Dhabi’s connectivity across South Asia.”
The UAE is home to one of the largest Bangladeshi communities in the world, and the new service will provide a direct and efficient link for families, alongside seamless onward connections via Abu Dhabi.
Bangladesh continues to experience strong economic growth, underpinned by its globally significant garment and textile sector. The introduction of widebody capacity on the route will enable reliable and efficient movement of cargo, offering exporters improved access to markets across the Middle East, Europe, and North America.
The seasonal service will also open valuable connections for the significant Bangladeshi diaspora communities in the United Kingdom, Italy, and North America, who will be able to travel via Abu Dhabi to Dhaka with ease.
The route will serve both point-to-point travellers between Abu Dhabi and Dhaka, as well as those connecting beyond to destinations across Etihad’s global network.
