Looking Back at Etihad's 2026 Summer Network: Palma and Krakow Connect to Abu Dhabi
Etihad's 2026 summer network adds Palma, Spain, and Krakow, Poland, both connecting via Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport, linking two contrasting European experiences.
Etihad's 2026 summer network includes two European cities of distinctly different character: Palma, in Spain's Balearic Islands, and the historic southern Polish city of Krakow. Both new routes use Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport as a transit hub, bringing together Mediterranean resort travel and Central European heritage travel within the same network.
What kind of travel experience do Palma and Krakow each offer?
Palma is located on the island of Mallorca, part of Spain's Balearic Islands, and is a Mediterranean coastal city. With this new destination, travelers can not only reach Palma itself but also venture further to the well-known port town of Soller, experiencing a Mediterranean fishing harbor set against a backdrop of mountains and sea.
On the island of Mallorca, home to Palma, travelers can further visit the port town of Soller. Image: Tatler AsiaPort of Sóller in Mallorca. Image: Tatler Asia
Krakow offers an entirely different travel tone. This historic Polish city retains a wealth of medieval architecture, with its streets unfolding along the Vistula River as one of its defining features—standing in clear contrast to Palma's island resort atmosphere. By including both destinations in its summer network, Etihad effectively places Mediterranean coastal scenery and Central European historic districts side by side within the same connecting network.
What existing class options are available via Abu Dhabi connections?
Both new routes use Abu Dhabi as a connecting point, meaning travelers will encounter Etihad's existing onboard service structure. The brand's business class product includes fully flat seats and on-demand dining service, though actual configurations should be confirmed for each specific aircraft type and flight segment, offering a degree of flexibility for rest and dining during long-haul connecting journeys.
For travelers flying segments that include Etihad's higher-tier cabin products, The Residence stands out as a representative option. This three-room suite design in the sky is referenced in this network overview using London, Toronto, and Paris routes as service examples. This mention of the three-room product should not be taken to mean that the Palma or Krakow routes also feature the same cabin class; when planning connections, long-haul segments and European segments should be confirmed separately.
The interior of Etihad’s The Residence suite. Image: Tatler Asia
What should travelers check when searching for flights now?
This is a look back at the 2026 summer network and should not be taken to imply that the same daily flights will continue into autumn and winter. Before booking, travelers should check available flights by departure date, connection times in Abu Dhabi, and whether the entire itinerary is covered under a single ticket; seasonal destinations and year-round fixed flights should be verified separately.
Overall, the significance of this network adjustment lies in expanding the range of European destination types connected through Abu Dhabi as a transit hub. From Mediterranean islands to Central European historic cities, travelers choosing to connect via Abu Dhabi now have a more diverse set of endpoint cities to plan around, rather than being limited to a single geographic region or travel theme.
