Dec. 17--Etihad Airways has revealed its plans to introduce three more destinations to its international network next year.
Continuing the prodigious growth of its first decade, the airline will commence daily services to Rome and Jaipur, together with four flights per week to Yerevan in Armenia. The new routes will join a previously announced daily service to Los Angeles and three flights per week to Dallas, plus daily services to Zurich in Switzerland, Perth in Australia and Madinah in Saudi Arabia, all of which are scheduled to commence in 2014. The eight new routes will increase Etihad Airways' worldwide network to 102 destinations next year.
James Hogan, president and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways, described the plans as part of "a measured and strategic growth plan, which will reinforce the future of the national carrier of the UAE and the vital role it plays in the emergence of Abu Dhabi as a global aviation hub".
"Together with our codeshare and equity alliance partners, we have created a virtual network of more than 375 destinations. This collaborative model gives us scale and enhanced global market access in constrained regions. But more importantly, it strengthens our customer proposition by offering more choice and better connections across our hub in Abu Dhabi."
Etihad Airways' equity alliance airlines presently include airberlin, Aer Lingus, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Darwin Airline (subject to regulatory approval), Jet Airways and Virgin Australia. The 2014 network plan also makes provision for increases in frequency and connectivity on existing routes, with more than 20 per cent growth expected in weekly departures.
Copyright 2013 - Khaleej Times, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
