Etihad Airways and TAROM, Romania’s national carrier, have signed a codeshare agreement that broadens connectivity between Eastern Europe and the Middle East, while giving passengers access to a wider network through a single-ticket travel experience.
The agreement, announced at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, will connect Etihad’s global network with destinations across Romania and Eastern Europe through TAROM’s domestic and regional operations. It also strengthens access to Abu Dhabi for travellers originating in Romania.
The partnership comes ahead of Etihad’s planned launch of direct services between Abu Dhabi and Bucharest on 17 December 2026, marking a significant step in the airline’s expansion across Central and Eastern Europe.
Under the agreement, Etihad customers will be able to book onward travel on TAROM-operated flights from Bucharest to several destinations within Romania and neighbouring markets using a single ticket.
According to details released by the airlines, the codeshare covers six Romanian cities:
• Baia Mare
• Cluj-Napoca
• Iasi
• Oradea
• Suceava
• Timisoara
The arrangement also extends access to four Eastern European capitals:
• Belgrade, Serbia
• Budapest, Hungary
• Chisinau, Moldova
• Sofia, Bulgaria
Passengers travelling from these destinations will be able to connect through Bucharest onto Etihad-operated services to Abu Dhabi once the new route becomes operational.
The codeshare agreement has been introduced ahead of Etihad’s entry into the Romanian market through its upcoming Abu Dhabi-Bucharest service.
The airline said travellers will benefit from a single booking process and through-checked baggage to their final destination, reducing complexity for passengers making onward connections.
Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, said the partnership provides the airline with immediate access to a broader regional network.
He noted that TAROM brings decades of aviation experience and an established presence across Romania and Eastern Europe, enabling Etihad to enter a growing market with greater scale from the outset.
The move reflects Etihad’s continued strategy of using partnerships and codeshare agreements to strengthen network reach beyond destinations served directly by its own aircraft.
For TAROM, the agreement creates a new direct link between Romania and Abu Dhabi while extending access to Etihad’s wider international network.
Mircea Nicolae Cotoros, Chief Commercial Officer at TAROM, said the partnership expands the Romanian carrier’s international footprint and supports stronger links between Romania and the Middle East.
He added that the arrangement supports network growth while encouraging cultural and economic exchanges between the two regions.
The partnership also provides Romanian travellers with improved access to destinations served by Etihad through Abu Dhabi, one of the Gulf region’s major aviation hubs.
The addition of TAROM further strengthens Etihad’s extensive network of airline partnerships.
According to information released by the carrier, Etihad’s partnership portfolio now includes:
• 47 codeshare partners
• More than 130 interline partners
• Access to over 350 destinations worldwide through single-ticket and through-fare arrangements
Etihad said this represents the largest partner network among airlines that are not members of a global airline alliance.
The strategy allows the carrier to expand customer reach and network coverage without deploying aircraft to every destination directly.
The agreement highlights the increasing importance of airline partnerships as carriers seek to improve connectivity and broaden market access amid growing international travel demand.
For Etihad, the deal strengthens its position in Eastern Europe ahead of the launch of Bucharest services. For TAROM, it opens a new gateway to Abu Dhabi and connects its passengers to a broader global network.
As the Abu Dhabi-Bucharest route prepares for launch later this year, the codeshare is expected to provide travellers with greater flexibility and a wider choice of destinations across Romania, Eastern Europe and beyond.
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