PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN – Etihad Airways has resumed flights to Peshawar after a nine-year break, a development signaling renewed international confidence in the city’s aviation sector and significantly boosting global connectivity for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Etihad flight EY 276 from Abu Dhabi landed at Bacha Khan International Airport today and was greeted with a traditional water salute by airport authorities, marking the carrier’s first arrival in Peshawar since .
The airline’s official statement confirms that Etihad Airways will now operate five weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Peshawar on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. The outbound flight, EY 277, will depart from Peshawar at 8 a.m.
The move, according to the statement, offers passengers “greater choice, improved convenience, and enhanced global connectivity,” reflecting the Pakistan Aviation Authority’s (PAA) commitment to ensuring safe, efficient, and world-class airport operations.
Growing Interest from International Carriers
Etihad is the third international carrier to launch or expand flight operations to Peshawar this year, highlighting the city’s increasing importance as an air travel hub connecting Pakistan’s northern regions with the Gulf.
- In August, Flyadeal, the Saudi low-cost carrier, commenced operations into Pakistan, with inaugural flights landing in Islamabad and Peshawar. The flight from Riyadh, carrying passengers, was welcomed with a traditional water salute.
- In May, Emirati low-cost airline Flydubai began services at Bacha Khan International Airport. The inaugural flight FZ-375 from Dubai, carrying passengers, was also greeted with a celebratory water cannon salute, followed by a ceremony attended by senior airport and airline officials.
The increasing presence of international airlines is expected to significantly ease travel for the large Pakistani expatriate community working in the Gulf states and enhance the city’s economic linkage to the Middle East.
