A method for the determination of titanium in coal fly ash by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry has been developed. Palladium acetate was used as a chemical modifier. The instrumental conditions, graphite furnace programme, concentration of the modifier, interferences, the calibration and standard addition graphs were studied. The limit of detection was found to be 0.66 ng and the relative standard deviation was 2.4% for 10 determinations. The reliability of the method has been demonstrated by the spiked recoveries of titanium and by analysing a standard reference material.