UAE national carrier Etihad Airways has announced four additional weekly flights on the popular Abu Dhabi – Malé route, increasing frequency to the idyllic Maldives to 11 services a week between July 1 and September 17.
The capacity increase will cater to high demand during the peak summer season. The announcement comes as the Abu Dhabi-based airline completed five years of operations to the Maldives.
Etihad Airways launched its daily scheduled flights between the capital cities of the UAE and the Maldives on November 1, 2011, said a statement from Etihad.
The summer expansion will be supported by a two-class A320 aircraft operating the route, with 16 Business and 120 Economy seats, it stated.
These additional flights will operate on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between July 1 and September 17, it stated.
Flight No EY 260 will take off from Abu Dhabi at 12.55 midnight and land in Malé at 6.20 early morning, while on return, Flight No 261 will depart Male at 7.40pm and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 11pm.
Over the past five years, Etihad Airways has carried more than 450,000 passengers on the route, with the majority travelling to the Maldives from Abu Dhabi, the GCC and key European markets.
The Maldives is the ultimate honeymoon and leisure destination, with Malé being the gateway to the premium leisure destination. Etihad Airways is a key contributor to the Maldivian economy, supporting the vibrant tourism and fishing industries.
The extra flights will provide more options for local passengers travelling between Abu Dhabi and Malé with an early morning arrival into the Maldives islands, said the UAE national carrier.
Overall connectivity to and from key destinations in the GCC and Europe will increase and, new two-way connectivity will be established from markets such as Edinburgh, Jeddah, Madrid, Moscow and Zurich, it added.-TradeaArabia News Service
Travel, Tourism & Hospitality
Etihad to launch extra summer flights to Maldives
