Etihad Airways is deepening its European network through a new codeshare partnership with TAROM, Romania's flag carrier. The agreement, signed during the IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, will connect Etihad's global hub in Abu Dhabi with Bucharest and onward to six Romanian cities: Baia Mare, Cluj-Napoca, Iași, Oradea, Suceava, and Timișoara. It also extends Etihad's reach into neighboring Eastern European capitals including Belgrade, Budapest, Chișinău, and Sofia.
The partnership comes ahead of Etihad's planned launch of direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Bucharest on 17 December 2026. This route signals the airline's strategic focus on Eastern Europe as both a source market and a destination for leisure and business travel.
Why Eastern Europe Matters Now
This agreement reflects a broader trend in global aviation. As competition intensifies across Western Europe, carriers are increasingly targeting Eastern European markets, which continue to record strong economic growth, rising disposable incomes, and growing outbound travel demand. Romania, in particular, has emerged as one of the region's fastest-growing economies while simultaneously attracting greater international tourism interest.
For Etihad, Bucharest provides an entry point into a market of more than 19 million people while strengthening Abu Dhabi's role as a global connecting hub linking Europe with Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Middle East. The codeshare also opens up destinations ranging from the medieval towns of Transylvania and the Carpathian Mountains to the wetlands of the Danube Delta, one of Europe's most biodiverse regions.
What Romanian Travellers Gain
Romanian travellers will gain direct access to Abu Dhabi, a destination increasingly recognized for its blend of culture, luxury, and leisure. Visitors can explore attractions including the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the museums of the Saadiyat Cultural District, and the emirate's growing collection of beaches, resorts, and entertainment attractions. Beyond Abu Dhabi, passengers will gain seamless onward access to destinations across Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Gulf through Etihad's expanding network.
Speaking about the partnership, Arik De, Chief Revenue Officer at Etihad Airways, 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.”
Mircea Nicolae Cotoros, CEO of TAROM, added: “This codeshare with Etihad Airways extends TAROM’s international reach and gives passengers a new connection between Bucharest and Abu Dhabi. It strengthens the link between Romania and the Middle East, supports the continued growth of our network and fosters cultural and economic exchanges.”
The TAROM agreement further strengthens Etihad's extensive partner network, which now includes 47 codeshare partnerships and more than 130 interline agreements — the largest network of any airline operating outside a global alliance. For Etihad, the strategy continues to provide access to hundreds of destinations without launching its own services, while supporting Abu Dhabi's ambitions to become one of the world's most connected aviation hubs.
This expansion comes as airlines globally focus on punctuality and network efficiency. For context, Saudia Tops Global Punctuality Rankings During Hajj and Eid Peak, highlighting the importance of operational reliability in competitive markets.
