Etihad Airways to increase flights to Nairobi

Etihad Airways is set to enhance its connectivity between Abu Dhabi and Nairobi (NBO, Kenya) by increasing its flight frequency to daily services starting June 2025. This expansion underscores the airline’s commitment to strengthening ties between the UAE and Kenya, responding to the growing demand for travel between the two regions.

Expanded Flight Schedule

Currently, Etihad operates four weekly flights on the Abu Dhabi–Nairobi route using an Airbus A320. The new schedule will see daily departures, providing more flexibility for travellers and facilitating smoother connections to Etihad’s global network. The updated flight details are as follows:

• Flight EY 767: Departs Abu Dhabi at 09:05, arriving in Nairobi at 13:30
• Flight EY 768: Departs Nairobi at 18:20, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 00:20 (+1).

False Starts

Etihad’s journey back to Nairobi has been anything but smooth. After suspending flights to the Kenyan capital in 2018, the airline made multiple announcements about its return, only to postpone or cancel each planned relaunch.

• In 2021, Etihad hinted at a comeback as part of its post-COVID route strategy, but plans were shelved quietly.
• In early 2023, Nairobi was again listed in network forecasts, and aviation enthusiasts spotted it on booking platforms, only for the flights to disappear without explanation.
• A third tentative relaunch was teased in late 2023, this time with official statements, but it was pushed to mid-2024 and then again to October 2024.

Finally, in October 2024, Etihad restarted the route with four weekly flights, a cautious relaunch that laid the groundwork for the daily service now scheduled to begin in June 2025