Etihad in Australia...

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Etihad Airways to launch flights to Sydney29-01-2007Abu Dhabi: Etihad Airways, the National Airline of the United Arab Emirates, will begin non-stop flights from Abu Dhabi to Sydney, Australia on March 26, 2007.

The new three-times-a-week service will be flown by a three-class Airbus A340-500 aircraft.

Flight frequency will increase to a daily operation from June 29.

Etihad Airways chief executive James Hogan, said: “I am very optimistic that the new Sydney service will boost the development of commerce and tourism between Australia and the UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi.”

“As well as direct traffic between these two great cities, we are aiming to attract connecting passengers from throughout the Middle East, and from Europe, who are looking to travel via Abu Dhabi to Sydney for business and holidays.”

Etihad’s Sydney route will also provide Australian business and leisure travellers with easy access to the Middle East region, as well as key international cities across Europe with swift connections through Abu Dhabi to a choice of 47 destinations currently served by the airline.

The Ambassador of Australia to the UAE, Jeremy Bruer, said: “I am delighted that Etihad has shown a huge vote of confidence in Australia by starting flights to and from Abu Dhabi. Australian travellers can now enjoy direct access to one of the most important locations in the Middle East on one of the world’s most exciting new airlines.”

Sydney will be Etihad Airways’ fifth destination in the Asia-Pacific region, joining Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Manila and Jakarta.

Flight Information
From March 26, Etihad’s flight EY450 will initially operate Monday, Wednesday, Friday, departing Abu Dhabi International Airport at 10.10 am, arriving Sydney International Airport 6.15 am the following day. The return service EY451 departs Sydney each Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday at 3.20 pm, arriving Abu Dhabi 0.10 am. All times are local.

The Airbus A340-500 aircraft serving the route will be configured in three classes of travel; 12 in Diamond, 28 in Pearl and 200 in Coral.

La prossima destinazione europea potrebbe essere Dublino, mentre per l'Italia è già stato chiesto più volte lo slot su Malpensa, dove esiste già la rotta Cargo,ma c'è un forte ostruzionismo da parte delle autorità....Lo stesso ostruzionismo che trova Emirates chiedendo a gran voce di poter raddoppiare le frequenza da Milano e Roma.

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E ora la doppietta Singapore-Brisbane


Etihad to launch Brisbane flights in September29-06-2007Abu Dhabi: Etihad Airways will start a three flights-a-week service in September to the Australian city of Brisbane from Abu Dhabi.

Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland which is home to the world-famous Gold Coast, will be Etihad’s second destination in Australia following the highly successful Sydney route which started in March.

The Brisbane flights, which will operate via Singapore, will provide business and leisure travellers from the Middle East with a frequent service to Australia’s third biggest city.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “Since the launch of our Abu Dhabi to Sydney service, we have been eager to expand our Australia operations even further and Brisbane is the ideal destination to add to our flight network.”

“Our customers will be able to travel from Abu Dhabi, with a one hour stop in Singapore, to Brisbane which is the gateway to Queensland and the Gold Coast.”

Australia is one of the most popular holiday destinations for UAE nationals with more than 23,000 Emiratis visiting the country in 2006, a seven-fold increase from 1996.

Nationals from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries can also apply for a two year tourist visa which allows multiple entries to Australia, perfect for annual family visits.

Margaret Keech, Queensland’s minister for tourism, said: “Australia’s cultural diversity ensures that it is an ideal holiday and business destination for visitors from the Middle East. Furthermore not only is Brisbane the perfect launch point for visiting Queensland’s spectacular coastline and countryside, it is also one of the world’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities.”

Etihad will operate a two cabin Airbus A330-200 between Abu Dhabi and Brisbane configured to carry 262 passengers, with 22 in business class and 240 in economy.