Etihad Airways and TAROM, the national airline of Romania, have signed a codeshare agreement that opens up connections between the UAE and 11 destinations across Romania and Eastern Europe on a single ticket.
The agreement, which was announced on June 8, 2026, was signed at the IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro.
Unlocking Eastern Europe ✈️
Through our partnership with TAROM, guests can now access 11 destinations via Bucharest on a single ticket, alongside our new Abu Dhabi to Bucharest service launching 17 December 2026.
Our partner network, the largest of any non‑alliance airline, now… pic.twitter.com/d6JoU3Shrt
— Etihad Airways (@etihad) June 8, 2026
What the Etihad – TAROM codeshare covers
Under the deal, Etihad passengers can book TAROM flights from Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP) in 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.
Travelers from Romania, in turn, can connect through Bucharest to Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) on Etihad’s new direct service, which is set to launch on December 17, 2026. Once the route begins, passengers will be able to travel on a single ticket with bags checked through to their final destination, connecting onward through Etihad’s network to the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
Romania: a fast-growing market
Romania is one of Eastern Europe’s fastest-growing economies and an increasingly popular travel destination, known for the medieval towns of Transylvania, the Carpathian Mountains, and the Danube Delta. For Etihad, the codeshare provides depth in the region ahead of its own Bucharest launch.
“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,” said Arik De, Etihad Airways Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer. “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, TAROM Chief Commercial Officer, said the partnership extends TAROM’s international reach and strengthens the link between Romania and the Middle East.
“It supports the continued growth of our network and fostering cultural and economic exchanges,” he said.
With the addition of TAROM, Etihad now works with 47 codeshare and over 130 interline partners, which the airline says is the largest partner network of any non-alliance carrier, giving passengers single-ticket access to more than 350 destinations worldwide.
