Etihad Airways plans to boost flights from the UK to Abu Dhabi as part of a 29 percent expansion of its global flying programme.

 

Etihad will launch a daily flight each morning from London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi next Sunday, supplementing existing afternoon and evening flights to the UAE’s capital.

It has also launched its new winter schedule, which starts on Sunday 28 October.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline will boost its total weekly flights from 556 to 718 with the majority of the increases set to take-off in the GCC, Europe and the Indian subcontinent.

Etihad will also start flights to Kathmandu, the airline’s seventh new destination of 2007, on 28 October. The new four flights a week service will provide a significant link to Nepal for leisure travellers as well as Nepalese nationals working in the UAE.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said:

‘As Etihad Airways continues its expansion we’re continually looking at opportunities to make improvements to our timetable. By adding depth and frequency to our expanding route network we are able to offer a simpler, more convenient travel experience for the flying public.’

The 29 per cent increase in flights compared to last winter will improve 16 routes across Etihad’s global network including Bahrain, where services will double from 14 to 28 flights a week and Muscat, where they will treble from seven to 21 flights a week.

Etihad’s strong network across the Middle East will be strengthened further with increased services from Abu Dhabi to Doha, from seven to 14 flights a week, Amman from six to daily and Damascus from five to daily.

Several European destinations will also benefit from increased services as part of the airline’s expanded winter season. Flights to Frankfurt will increase from seven to 10 a week, Geneva and Brussels from three to four flights a week, Dublin goes from four to six flights a week and London Heathrow rises from 14 to 19 flights a week.

The airline’s services to the Indian subcontinent will receive a significant boost as Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, Etihad’s two Kerala routes, and the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka, will all increase to daily flights.

Etihad was recently named ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline,’ ‘Middle East’s Leading First Class Airline’ and ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline Website’ at the inaugural regional World Travel Awards, Middle East & Africa ceremony, that took place at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.
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