Etihad Airways has confirmed it will increase the fuel surcharge on its European flights to offset the costs being imposed on the airline by the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme. The increase of $3 per passenger for flights into and out of Europe and USD$0.03 cents/kg for cargo shipments will take effect for travel from March 1st, 2012.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and airberlin, Europe’s sixth biggest carrier, today announced a significant increase in services between AbuDhabi and both Germany and Thailand.

Etihad Airways has announced the launch of flights to Lagos, the airline’s first destination in west Africa, from July 1st, subject to regulatory approvals. The direct flights will link Abu Dhabi and Lagos six times a week and will be operated by a two class A330-200 aircraft with 22 Pearl Business class and 240 Coral Economy seats.

Etihad Airways, considered the World’s Leading Airline by the prestigious World Travel Awards. is offering complimentary 96-hour tourist visas to guests transiting through the UAE, effective immediately. The visas, ideal for travellers making stopover visits en route to their final destination, are being offered in cooperation with Radisson Blu hotel on Yas Island.

Government officials in the Seychelles have agreed to sell a 40 per cent stake in Air Seychelles to Etihad Airways as part of a strategic partnership alliance initiative. Under the terms of the deal the national airline of the United Arab Emirates will invest US$20 million in the carrier, with the sum to be matched by an equal capital injection by the government of Seychelles.

The 14 hour delivery flight of Etihad’s newest Boeing 777-300ER, from Seattle to Abu Dhabi, was the first in the Gulf to be operated using sustainable biofuel.