ABU DHABI: Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has made good its promise of growth and greater connectivity by starting flights to three key destinations.
Inaugural services to Dusseldorf, Germany (DUS) began on September 28, followed the next day by Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH) and then Osaka, Japan (KIX) on October 1.
Meanwhile the airline unveiled increased frequencies to popular destinations Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KUL) and Colombo, Sri Lanka (CMB).
The flights are part of a package of new routes and increased frequencies designed to meet customer demand for more opportunities to visit Abu Dhabi and provide even more connectivity to Etihad’s growing global network.
“The new flights are the next important steps as we enhance our network delivering greater connectivity for our guests,and serving their demand for more opportunities to visit Abu Dhabi,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways.
“We are helping accelerate economic growth for the city by providing more travel options and seamless connections, ensuring it’s easier for guests to visit Abu Dhabi either as a destination, or as part of a stopover as they explore our growing global network.”
Etihad has already announced the launch of nine new destinations this year, including Malaga, Mykonos, Lisbon, Kolkata, St Petersburg, Dusseldorf, Copenhagen, Osaka, and Boston. In addition, the airline recently announced new routes to the Indian Subcontinent, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, to be launched in January 2024.
To complement these developments, Etihad has made several recent network changes and frequency adds to enhance travel options and connectivity. Highlights include:
Improved Departure Times: Enhanced passenger convenience with adjusted departure times for European and Asian destinations.
Expanded Frequencies: Increased regularity to Chennai (MAA), Colombo (CMB) Islamabad (ISB), Kochi (COK), Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Madrid (MAD), Milan (MXP), Munich (MUC), Rome (FCO), and Phuket (HKT) offer travellers more choice while improving travel options and connectivity.
- Cairo (CAI): An additional 5 flights per week to make triple daily operations to Cairo, effective from 1 Jan, strengthening the link between Abu Dhabi and the Egyptian capital.
- Colombo (CMB): 7 direct flights per week with 3 flights effective from 1 Dec and 4 flights effective from 1 Jan,increasing to 10 per week from May 2024, further enhancing travel options to this destination.
- Kuala Lumpur (KUL): Double daily from 15 Jan, 2024
- Maldives (MLE): An additional 7 flights per week, with 3 flights effective from 1 Dec and 4 flights effective from 1 Jan
| Destinations | Change | Total Frequency | Start Date |
| Dusseldorf | New route | 3 per week | 28 September 2023 |
| Copenhagen | New route | 4 per week | 29 September 2023 |
| Osaka | New route | 5 per week | 1 October 2023 |
| Lisbon | Extended year-round | 3 per week | 29 October 2023 |
| St Petersburg | New route | 3 per week | 29 October 2023 |
| Kozhikode | New route | 7 per week | 1 January 2024 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | New route | 7 per week | 1 January 2024 |
| Boston | New route | 4 per week | 31 March 2024 |
| Chennai | +7 per week | 21 per week | 15 September 2023 |
| Frankfurt | +4 per week | 11 per week | 29 October 2023 |
| Rome | +4 per week | 11 per week | 4 November 2023 |
| Amsterdam | Retimed | 7 per week | 21 November 2023 |
| Kochi | +8 per week | 21 per week | 21 November 2023 |
| Madrid | +3 per week | 10 per week | 21 November 2023 |
| Milan | +3 per week | 10 per week | 21 November 2023 |
| Munich | +3 per week | 10 per week | 21 November 2023 |
| Phuket | +7 per week | 14 per week | 21 November 2023 |
| Moscow | Retimed | 7 per week | 1 December 2023 |
| Cairo | +5 per week | 21 per week | 1 January 2024 |
| Colombo | 7 direct per week10 direct per week | 7 per week10 per week | 1 January 2024May 2024 |
| Islamabad | +2 per week | 14 per week | 1 January 2024 |
| Maldives (Male) | +7 per week | 14 per week | 1 January 2024 |
