ETIHAD Airways has announced that it will greatly increase options for travel to and from India, introducing more flights and wide-bodied jets by the end of this year, and further increases and new routes next year, subject to regulatory approval.
From November 1, Etihad Airways plans to more than triple the number of seats it now offers on the prime Abu Dhabi – Mumbai and Abu Dhabi – New Delhi routes.
President and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways, James Hogan, says: “India is one of the world’s fastest-growing destinations, and a key market in the growth strategy of Etihad Airways. Following the recent signing of a new air services agreement between India and the UAE, we now have the opportunity to add significant capacity between the two countries, not only meeting existing demand for trade and tourist travel but also ensuring that we can meet the continued strong growth which is expected between our two countries. The big winners will be our passengers and freight customers and the economies of India and Abu Dhabi.”
By December 31, 2013, Etihad Airways plans to increase its Abu Dhabi-Mumbai and Abu Dhabi-New Delhi flights from daily to double-daily, use wide-bodied Airbus A340-600 aircraft on one of the daily Abu Dhabi – Mumbai flights, offering First, Business and Economy Classes, use wide-bodied Airbus A330-200 aircraft on one of the daily Abu Dhabi – New Delhi flights, offering Business and Economy Class; and upgrade daily Abu Dhabi – Chennai flights from 136-seat Airbus A320s to new Airbus A321s, seating 174 passengers. Subject to regulatory approval, Etihad also intends to codeshare on a wide range of flights operated within India by Jet Airways.
The airline is also set to increase its Abu Dhabi-Kathmandu service from seven flights per week to a double daily schedule from November 1, 2013.
The new services will be operated by A320 aircraft fitted with 16 Pearl Business Class seats and 120 Economy Class seats. Since the start of flights to Kathmandu in 2007, Etihad Airways has carried more than 620,000 passengers on this route.
Etihad Airways also recently launched its inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi to Sana’a, Yemen’s political and commercial capital.
A high level Yemeni delegation, including Minister of Transport Waed Bathib, Minister of Tourism Dr Qasim Sallam Said, representatives from Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Education, security officials and senior airport officials received the maiden flight upon its arrival at Rehaba International Airport in Sana’a.
Sana’a is Etihad Airways’ latest destination on the Arabian Peninsula, joining Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait, Muscat and Riyadh. The airline now serves the Yemeni capital four times a week from Abu Dhabi with an Airbus A320 aircraft equipped with 16 Pearl Business Class seats and 120 seats in Coral Economy Class.