Etihad pursues flight expansion in 2015

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, one of the world’s fastest-growing airlines, is planning to launch more flights to Australia and extend operations to other countries as part of an expansion plan for2015, its President and CEO has said.

James Hogan said the carrier would launch a second non-stop service between Abu Dhabi and Melbourne from August 1, adding more than 4,500 seats per week to the route and supporting strong two-way demand.

In an article he wrote in the airlines’s magazine ‘Etihadinflight’, he said guests can also enjoy greater access to South America thanks to a new “codeshare” agreement with Aerolíneas Argentinas, one of South America’s leading airlines.

The Etihad Airways’ EY code now appears on the Argentinian airline’s extensive domestic network, as well as to key South American destinations including Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay, the veteran Australian aviation executive said.

“Another key Etihad Airways partner is Alitalia, in which we have a 49 per cent equity stake, and I am pleased to report that the airline has unveiled exciting plans for new routes, product and services,” he said.

He said such plans include new flights from Rome to Beijing, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Mexico City, San Francisco, Santiago, and Seoul, as well as increased flights to Abu Dhabi, Chicago, New York, and Rio de Janeiro.

Alitalia will also add 13 weekly flights from Milan, with daily services to Abu Dhabi, four flights a week to Shanghai, plus additional flights to Tokyo, he added.

He also revealed plans for increased connectivity with Abu Dhabi with daily services from Bologna, Catania, Milan, and Venice.

“Finally, you may be interested to know that Etihad Airways and Alitalia are the Official Global Carriers of Expo Milano 2015, and tickets for the highly anticipated six-month event are now available through our respective websites and contact centres.”

Hogan said a special early-bird promotion offers a discount of 20 per cent on all tickets purchased before April 2015.

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