Airline News in Brief 11 June 2026

Etihad and TAROM sign new codeshare: Etihad Airways and TAROM, the national airline of Romania, have signed a codeshare agreement that connects Etihad’s global guests with Romania and Eastern Europe, and links travellers from Romania to Abu Dhabi, Etihad’s home and gateway to its worldwide network. The agreement was signed at the IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro. Under the partnership, Etihad guests can book a single ticket on TAROM flights from Bucharest to six cities across Romania: Baia Mare, Cluj-Napoca, Iasi, Oradea, Suceava, and Timisoara. The codeshare also extends to four Eastern European capitals: Belgrade, Budapest, Chisinau, and Sofia. Guests from Romania, in turn, can reach Abu Dhabi from Bucharest on Etihad’s new service. The codeshare supports the launch of Etihad’s new Abu Dhabi–Bucharest service on 17 December 2026. Once the new service begins, guests can travel on a single ticket between Bucharest and destinations across Etihad’s network, with bags checked through to the final stop. Arik De, Etihad Airways Chief Revenue & Commercial Officer, said: “TAROM gives Etihad real depth in Eastern Europe: a flag carrier shaped by more than seven decades of European aviation, and an established network reaching across the country and the wider region. Launching this codeshare ahead of our own Bucharest service means we enter a fast-growing market with genuine scale from day one.” With the addition of TAROM, Etihad’s partner network now spans 47 codeshare and over 130 interline partners, the largest of any non-alliance airline, giving guests single-ticket and through-fare access to over 350 destinations worldwide. Air Canada’s Budapest–Toronto flight returns: Air Canada has launched its Budapest-Toronto flight, which will operate five times a week during the peak season—on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays—from the Hungarian capital to the Canadian metropolis, until the end of October. Air Canada will operate the route using the wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, offering passengers a choice of Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class, ensuring that both leisure and business travelers can find the service that best suits their needs. The flight will operate from 6 June to 24 October 2026, between Ferenc Liszt International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport, with a flight time of nine hours. Flights depart Toronto at 7:00 p.m. local time and arrive in Budapest at 9:40 a.m. the following morning, while return flights depart the Hungarian capital at 11:45 a.m. and land in Toronto at 3:05 p.m. Air Canada is providing 47,680 seats between the two cities during the summer season and offers excellent connections in Toronto, thereby linking Budapest with other regions of Canada, major North American cities and certain exotic destinations, such as the Caribbean, Hawaii and several South American countries. “We are delighted to welcome Air Canada’s Budapest–Toronto flight, which is one of the most eagerly anticipated connections of this summer season by passengers, whether they are traveling for leisure or business,” said Francois Berisot, the CEO of Budapest Airport. “This connection is the second direct North American destination this summer, which will further strengthen the already extremely strong overseas interest in the Hungarian capital.” Emirates ready to invest in daily flights to Berlin and Stuttgart: Emirates said it stands ready to launch daily services to Berlin and Stuttgart, committing more than 100 million EUR each year in operational expenses, staff, airport charges, fuel and other expenditures, subject to the approval of the German Federal Ministry of Transport. Berlin sits as the political heart of Europe’s largest economy. A city of 3.9 million people, it is home to a thriving start-up ecosystem, well-established diplomatic community, and a cultural scene that draws millions of visitors each year. Yet its long-haul connectivity has not kept pace with the city’s strong global credentials. In fact, according to OAG schedule data, over 85% of Berlin Brandenburg Airport’s international connectivity is concentrated within Europe. Stuttgart faces a comparable gap in long-haul services. The economic engine of Baden-Württemberg, one of Germany’s most export-driven states, remains underserved when it comes to long-haul air connectivity, the very kind of connectivity manufacturers, suppliers, and trading partners depend upon. Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “Emirates is ready to bring daily widebody connectivity to Berlin and Stuttgart and connect them with our extensive network, backed by substantial investment. These are two of Germany’s most important economic centres, yet both remain underserved when it comes to long-haul connectivity. German businesses have told us they need it, the Berlin Chamber of Commerce has called for it, our own data confirms the demand is there and flights are forecast to be full.” Etihad Airways doubles Kabul flights: Etihad Airways is to double its flights between Abu Dhabi and Kabul from 15 July 2026, with the route’s rapid growth since launch prompting the airline to add a second daily service in each direction. Kabul joined the Etihad network in March 2026, initially operating four times weekly. Demand has significantly exceeded expectations, with strong take-up from both point-to-point travellers and those using Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport as a hub to connect onwards to Europe and beyond. The route is flown by Airbus A320 aircraft configured with eight Business and 150 Economy seats. With double-daily flights now in place, travellers between Afghanistan and the UAE will have considerably more choice over departure times, whether travelling for family, business or leisure. Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, said: “The response to our Kabul launch has been exceptional. Demand has remained strong from day one, and moving to double-daily is a direct reflection of what our guests have been telling us with their bookings. This rapid expansion is another example of the strategic approach we take to network development, allowing us to respond quickly to the wishes of our guests, and strengthening Abu Dhabi’s rile as an important gateway connecting regional markets with our global network.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]