ETIHAD Airways has commenced non-stop daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Washington, D.C., creating the first direct air link between the two capitals. The new service to Washington Dulles International Airport has been introduced to meet strong demand for government and business travel, as well as growing demand for leisure trips between and beyond the cities.
“Government and corporate customers in both markets have given us strong indication that the Abu Dhabi – Washington route can support a daily service from day one,” James Hogan, president and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways, said.
“We have confidently responded by committing 3,360 seats per week and already our forward bookings on the route are very encouraging in both directions,” Hogan said. “In addition, we will open a $6.8 million premium lounge this week in Terminal A at Dulles Airport to benefit our Diamond First and Pearl Business Class passengers.”
The beautifully-appointed split level lounge features a whole range of exclusive services including soothing relaxation spaces, elegant fine dining areas, state-of-the-art business amenities, luxurious bathrooms with invigorating shower facilities, and family entertainment areas.
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An Etihad Airways’ guest services lounge agent at the airline’s new world-class premium lounge at Dulles International Airport, Washington, D.C. |
The new facility is part of an overall total investment of $50 million over the next 12 months to build further premium lounges at major destinations across Etihad Airways’ fast growing global network. In addition to its signature First and Business Class lounges in Abu Dhabi, the airline has also established premium lounges in Dublin, Frankfurt, London, Manchester and Paris. Additionally, new state-of-the-art luxury lounges are planned for New York, Sydney and Melbourne.
Hogan said: “In creating our guest experience we derive our inspiration not by looking at other airlines but by benchmarking ourselves against some of the world’s leading hotels and restaurants.
“We continue to invest heavily in continuous innovation to ensure a memorable and seamless experience for our guests on the ground and in the air.”
Washington, D.C. will be the airline’s fourth North American destination after New York, Chicago and Toronto. To date, Etihad Airways has carried almost two million passengers between Abu Dhabi and North America, achieving 12.6 per cent growth in passenger numbers last year.
As part of its global hub strategy, Abu Dhabi Airport will open a new terminal in 2017 increasing the annual passenger capacity from the current 12.5 million to 30 million. Provision is also being made for further expansion to accommodate up to 60 million passengers per year.
The airline, celebrates its 10th anniversary of operations this year has recorded its strongest ever passenger and cargo results for a first quarter. The Abu Dhabi-based airline posted Q1 2013 passenger revenues of $900 million (2012: $758 million), an increase of 19 per cent; and cargo revenues of $193 million (2012: $165 million), an increase of 17 per cent.
Passenger numbers in Q1 2013 grew by 18 per cent, rising from 2.3 million to a record 2.8 million. The average seat factor was 80.5 per cent, four percentage points higher than the previous year (2012: 76.5 per cent), despite a 12 per cent increase in capacity. The seat factor is above IATA’s current global average of 77.1 per cent.
Etihad Cargo also had its strongest first quarter, with tonnage up 20 per cent from 85,152 to 101,776 tonnes.
Revenue from codeshare and equity partners jumped by 34 per cent from $136 million to $182 million in the first three months of the year and represented 20 per cent of total revenue in the quarter. Etihad Airways’ equity alliance comprises airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia, and Aer Lingus. Each airline announced profitable results during the first quarter of 2013, which demonstrates the success of this new alliance model for all the member airlines.