Etihad is upgrading its UAE ground services, including the new coach service between Abu Dhabi and Sharjah and new features in the premium travel limousines.Ground transfer operations started in 2005, and since then there has been a rapid increase in the take-up of the coach and limousine services, with more than 100,000 Guests using Etihad ground services between January and July 2006.

On arrival in the UAE, Coral zone Guests can now transfer directly to Abu Dhabi city centre, Al Ain, Dubai and now Sharjah. Diamond and Pearl zone Guests can continue to enjoy the more luxurious side of Etihad, with complimentary travel anywhere within the UAE.

“Etihad is determined that as soon as Guests depart from their hotels or homes, or land in Abu Dhabi, they have a relaxed and stress free journey to their final destination,” said Peter Van Gompel, assistant vice president for product and service delivery, Etihad Airways.

“We have Guests visiting different towns and cities across the United Arab Emirates which means it is vital they receive the highest standard of Etihad hospitality in their transfer to and from Abu Dhabi international Airport.”

In the first six months of 2006 there was an increase of 152 percent of Guests who have used Etihad’s ground services. Of that total, 88 percent were Dubai-based Guests, often taking advantage of the popular Dubai city check-in which allows Guests to check-in their luggage up to 24-hours before flying with the Abu Dhabi-based airline.

Premium zone Guests can also enjoy special features of the limousine transfer, including cold face and hand towels, fresh mineral water and newspapers.

“The convenient location of Abu Dhabi International Airport means Guests can travel there in 45 minutes from our Sheikh Zayed Road office. By checking-in their luggage in Dubai, Guests can stay on in the city without the stress of carrying suitcases and additional baggage,” continued Van Gompel.

The ground services now compliment Etihad’s in-flight services which have received considerable praise with the arrival of the airline’s new fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

Each Zone in Etihad’s new fleet has been meticulously designed to meet Guests’ requirements, and this is underlined in the new Diamond zone on-board the Airbus A340-500 where the seats can turn around by 180 degrees enabling Guests to dine and meet in groups.

Etihad were voted World’s Leading New Airline at the World Travel Awards 2005 and have been nominated this year in several categories including World’s
Leading Flatbed Seat.
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