Etihad, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has unveiled an ambitious network overhaul, positioning the airline for sustainable expansion while improving Abu Dhabi's links to global markets. The new network is designed to support Abu Dhabi visitor growth and provide travelers with more options by introducing new destinations and increasing frequencies to key international markets.
New Destinations
Etihad has already announced the launch of nine new destinations this year, including Malaga, Mykonos, Lisbon, Osaka, and Boston. In addition, the airline this week published two new routes to the Indian Subcontinent, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, to be showcased Etihad's dedication to expanding connectivity and providing travelers with more options globally.
More Flights To Complement These Developments
Etihad had made several recent network changes and frequency adds to enhance travel options and connectivity. The updated network leverages Etihad's geographic advantages as a facilitator for seamless cultural exchange and developing economic opportunities along its network routes across Asia and Europe. Some of the highlights include:
Increasing flights to London from three to four times daily, offering more convenient departure times and better connection to other European destinations.
Adding a second daily flight to Paris provides more flexibility and choice for travelers between the two capitals.
Boosting capacity to Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Geneva, Milan, Rome, Madrid, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Moscow with larger aircraft or additional frequencies.
Enhancing connectivity to India with more flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kochi, and Trivandrum.
Expanding services to China with more flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Guangzhou.
Increasing frequencies to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Manila, Seoul, Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland.
Better Connection
The updated schedules have been timed for departures from Abu Dhabi at 2 pm ensuring travelers and visitors can thoroughly experience Abu Dhabi's hotels and attractions until their checkout time. This approach enhances the overall travel experience while maximizing the enjoyment of Abu Dhabi's offerings. The new network also provides seamless connections to Etihad's partner airlines such as Air France - KLM, Lufthansa Group, Virgin Australia, and Jet Airways, offering more choices and itineraries for travelers.
Antonoaldo Beves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: "As we embark on Etihad's next chapter targeting growth, our ambitious network and improve connectivity allow us to better serve Abu Dhabi and our valued guests, forming the basis of our future expansion while providing flexibility and freedom to adapt to new opportunities and markets. By offering more travel options and seamless connections, we aim to attract an increasing number of visitors to Ab Dhabi, propelling economic growth for the city while enriching the travel experience for our passengers".
The revamped network will take effect from October 2023, coinciding with the start of the winter travel season. Etihad is entering a new phase of growth and connectivity to provide seamless travel experiences, enhanced connections, and flexibility across its global network.
