Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, today announced the expansion of itsIndia operations with the launch a daily service between Abu Dhabi and Kolkata.
Commencing on 15 February 2015, the new flights will bring the total number of Indian cities served by Etihad Airways to 11, with existing routes including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, New Delhi and Trivandrum.
Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal.The city is the main commercial, financial and educational hub of East and Northeast India, and is the third largest contributor to India's economyin terms of GDP contribution.
Home to a diverse mix of cultures, Kolkata boasts modern and colonialarchitecture, multiple monuments, and has a metropolis population of over 15 million, making it India's second largest city.
James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: "India, one of the world's largest growing travel markets, has always been an important destination for Etihad Airways. The launch of our new Kolkata services demonstrates our enduring commitment to serve the Indian market and people, whether in India or overseas.
"We are confident that thisnew service, our first to Northeastern India, will boost travel and trade between the UAE and India, further strengthen our presence in India, and connect key strategic cities with Abu Dhabi.
"Beyond our Abu Dhabi hub, travellers will have great opportunities to conveniently connect to the Gulf region and Middle East, as well as Europe, North America and Africa."
Etihad Airways already places its 'EY' flight code on its codeshare and network partner, Jet Airways' domestic routes from hubs in Mumbai and Bangalore to Kolkata.
The UAE flag carrier recently announced a major expansion of its codeshare agreement with Jet Airways, offering travellers enhanced connections throughout India, and linking India with even more destinations worldwide. This movebrings the combined number of codeshare services offered by both airlines to 71.
The new Abu Dhabi - Kolkata route will be operated by a two-class Airbus A320 aircraft configured to carry 136 passengers, with 16 seats in Business Class and 120 seats in Economy Class seats, offering a total of 1,904 seats per week.
Etihad Airways has announced six new routes for the first half of 2015, starting with Kolkata in February, Madrid in March, Entebbe in May, and Edinburgh, Hong Kong and Algiers in June.
The airline's flights to and from Kolkata can be booked from today on www.etihad.com, through Etihad Airways Contact Centres, or via travel agents.
-Ends-
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways began operations in 2003, and in 2013 carried 11.5 million passengers. From its Abu Dhabi base Etihad Airways flies to 107 existing or announced passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. The airline has a fleet of 102 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and more than 210 aircraft on firm order, including 71 Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777-X, 62 Airbus A350s and 10 Airbus A380s. Etihad Airways holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia, Aer Lingus, Air Serbia and Jet Airways, and is in the process of formalising its equity investment in Swiss-based Etihad Regional*. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com
*Operated by Darwin Airline
For more information contact:
Asif Khan, Etihad Airways Corporate Communications
Dir: +971 (0) 2 511 1543
Mob: +971 50 812 1364
Email: AsifK@etihad.ae
© Press Release 2014
