Etihad Airways continues Africa expansion with new flights to Lagos, Nigeria

Etihad Airways today announced the launch of flights to Lagos, the airline’s first destination in West Africa, from July 1, 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.

Lagos becomes the 83rd destination in Etihad Airways’ global network and the return flights will create a new link between Nigeria, Africa’s third largest economy, and the United Arab Emirates.

Following the launch of services to the Seychelles in November 2011, Tripoli last month and Nairobi in April, the addition of Nigeria marks another milestone in Etihad Airways’ African expansion plans.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “The launch of flights to Lagos is consistent with our strategy of targeting areas of strong growth in emerging markets.

“The United Arab Emirates is a major trade partner of Nigeria, which has a population of more than 150 million people, the largest in Africa and the seventh biggest in the world.

“The country is rich in natural resources, such as oil and natural gas. Our new point-to-point services will strengthen the oil and gas links between the UAE and Nigeria and facilitate further growth in these industries.

”The country is also enjoying strong economic growth driven by significant foreign investment, particularly from China, which means there is increasing demand for travel between Lagos and other emerging economies.

“The Lagos schedule will provide seamless connections over Abu Dhabi to key North and Southeast Asian destinations and markets in the India Subcontinent and Australia.”

Inflight connectivity takes to the skies with Etihad Airways

Guests of Etihad Airways, considered the World’s Leading Airline by the prestigious World Travel Awards are now better connected than ever before.

The airline’s first aircraft to offer inflight connectivity for passengers have officially taken to the skies.

The aircraft - three Airbus A330-300 and one Airbus A320 aircraft - are equipped with inflight passenger connectivity services. Another connectivity-enabled Airbus A320 will be delivered in March 2012.

On the A320, guests of the airline will have full mobile connectivity, enabling them to use their own mobile phones and Smartphones to make and receive phone-calls, send and receive text messages and emails, and access mobile data services. The A320 is used primarily for short-haul routes throughout the Middle East, and some mid-length routes such as Istanbul, Athens, Minsk, Cochin, Bangalore and Mahé in the Seychelles.

Onboard Etihad Airways’ A330-300 aircraft, guests will have the same mobile connectivity in addition to Wi-Fi internet capability for personal laptop and tablet use. The A330-300 is used for long-haul destinations across the network, such as London, Frankfurt, Paris, Geneva, Casablanca and Seoul.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer, said: “The modern traveller is increasingly reliant on mobile devices and the internet, not only to plan travel, but also to stay in touch throughout their journey. The introduction of these connectivity-enabled aircraft is an exciting first step in Etihad Airways’ long-term strategy to offer inflight connectivity solutions across our entire fleet of passenger aircraft.”

During the launch phase, Etihad Airways will offer inflight mobile and tablet connectivity from USD 10 and laptop Wi-Fi internet connectivity from USD 20. Mobile telephone calls will be charged according to the international roaming rates of guests’ mobile network provider.

Etihad dials-up in-flight connectivity

Etihad Airways the Abu-Dhabi carrier officially launched its first aircraft equipped with in-flight connectivity this week, allowing passengers to receive calls and message on their mobiles.

Hooked up to the carrier’s three Airbus A330-300 and one A320 and expected to be available on their second A320 from March this year, the carrier said the system will give passengers full mobile connectivity.

On top of the international roaming rates of the traveller's mobile network provides, the carrier will also charge US$10 for inflight mobile and tablet connection as well as US$20 for laptop Wi-Fi internet.

Etihad Airways chief commercial officer Peter Baumgartner said in an online statement that the launch of in-flight connectivity was the carrier’s first step in a long-term strategy of in-flight connection solutions.

“The modern traveller is increasingly reliant on mobile devices and the internet, not only to plan travel, but also to stay in touch throughout their journey,” he said.

The carrier’s A320 is often used to service short-haul service across the Middle East while the A330-300 is used for longer flights to London, Frankfurt, Paris, Geneva, Casablanca and Seoul.

Etihad Airways in training partnership with IATA

Etihad Airways announced a training partnership with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) during the Aeropolitical Affairs Forum in Abu Dhabi.

The partnership, a joint effort to develop the human capital of the Middle East aviation industry, is commencing with the implementation of the Airline Customer Service programme and will extend afterwards to other fields in aviation, cargo, travel and tourism.

It will also aim at upgrading the leadership competencies of various industry resources by introducing the IATA-Harvard Leadership & Management training programme in collaboration with Harvard Business School Publishing.

“The United Arab Emirates is expecting to handle 86.6 million international passengers by 2015, an 8.5% average annual growth. If that materialises, in 2015 it will handle nearly 30 million more passengers than in 2010. Skills and knowledge will be critical to support this extraordinary growth,“ said Tony Tyler, IATA’s director general and CEO.

IATA’s partnership with Etihad Airways in the training field falls within a shared vision of reaching out to the next generation of leaders in the aviation industry as well as the overall development of the human capital to fullfill the need for new talent and skills to meet the challenges and opportunities in a dynamic industry.

“We are delighted to be involved in this partnership as there is no more important resource for any organisation than its people,” said Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan. “This joint initiative should help provide access to opportunity as we build a talent pool across all facets of the aviation industry, and provide a career path for appropriately trained professionals.”

Etihad signs major travel service deal

Etihad Airways has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with International Golden Group (IGG) to provide their employees with tailored services, benefits and simplified procedures for all their government-funded travel.

Under the agreement, which is part of the Abu Dhabi Government Employee Travel Program (ADGETP), Etihad will offer IGG a range of benefits including bonus miles, additional excess baggage allowance, priority services and exclusive travel discounts.
Additionally, IGG has agreed to make Etihad Airways its preferred airline for all air travel and cargo requirements.
Both parties also agreed to look at possible future joint initiatives.
Hareb Al-Muhairy, Etihad Airways' vice president, sales, in the UAE, said: "Etihad is delighted to offer benefits specifically packaged to suit the needs of IGG employees. This agreement affirms Etihad's efforts to offer unprecedented benefits and travel services to government and semi-government employees across Abu Dhabi."
The Abu Dhabi Government Employee Travel Program has been developed jointly with Abu Dhabi General Services Company Musanada.
Several Abu Dhabi government entities have already joined the program including Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Tourism Development Investment Company, Abu Dhabi Educational Council, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council, Department of Economic Development and Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.

Etihad Airways enters codeshare with Hainan Airlines

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has signed a codeshare agreement with Hainan Airlines of China. It is the Abu Dhabi-based airline's first codeshare with a Chinese carrier and its 35th with world airlines.

Subject to regulatory approvals, from January 10, 2012; Hainan Airline's will place its 'HU' code on Etihad Airways flights between Abu Dhabi and the airline's three gateway cities in China: Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai, according to a release. The arrangement will extend to Etihad Airways flights beyond Abu Dhabi to Khartoum International Airport in Sudan.
James Hogan, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways said the codeshare with Hainan Airlines would help strengthen Etihad's position in the competitive Chinese market. “Working with a major player like Hainan Airlines will increase Chinese passenger numbers on our China-Abu Dhabi services and beyond to popular destinations in Africa, Middle East and Europe. We look forward to expanding the relationship to include more destinations over time.”
Tie Li, President of Hainan Airlines said: “The codeshare cooperation with Etihad Airways will reinforce Hainan Airlines' development in the Middle East and Africa region. We have great expectations of the partnership, and believe that through mutual creativity, we will be able to bring synergy and hopefully value to our customers."
The reciprocal agreement will integrate the Etihad Guest and Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings Club loyalty programs, enabling travellers to earn miles on each other's flights.
The new codeshare services will go on sale from January 10, 2012, for travel from that date for Beijing and Chengdu flights, and from March 1, 2012 for Shanghai.

Etihad and Air Berlin Form an Alliance

Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi and Air Berlin, Germany’s second-largest airline, announced a strategic partnership Monday that will see Etihad become Air Berlin’s largest shareholder and gain access to new European routes as it seeks to keep pace with its larger Gulf-based rival, Emirates.

Under the terms of the agreement, Etihad will increase an existing 3 percent stake in Air Berlin to just over 29 percent through the purchase €73 million, or $95 million, in new shares while providing up to $255 million in loans to finance new jet purchases.

The deal also includes a code share agreement giving Etihad access to Air Berlin’s European short-distance network, and to the German capital of Berlin — a destination that Emirates in particular has long coveted in the face of fierce opposition from the German flag carrier, Lufthansa.

The purchase of such a sizeable stake in Air Berlin appeared to be the clearest signal yet of Etihad’s intention to continue its push into the European market at a time when the region’s major players, including Lufthansa and Air France, are struggling to hold down costs and maintain market share against what they claim is unfair competition from subsidized Middle Eastern rivals.

“Overnight, we have gone from having a minimal presence in Europe to a major one,” said James Hogan, Etihad’s chief executive, adding that Etihad was eager to exploit the new access that the Air Berlin deal will give to 33 million new passengers — most of them in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, which have robust leisure and business travel markets.

Etihad, the third-largest Gulf carrier after Emirates and Qatar Airways, has made no secret of its desire to raise its European profile. Industry executives have said the airline is also eyeing the Irish government’s 25 percent stake in Aer Lingus and that it had considered joining Virgin Atlantic’s bid for BMI, Lufthansa’s unprofitable British unit.

Mr. Hogan said Etihad had no immediate plans for further acquisitions in Europe, but he did not rule out future investments. Nor did he envision any further increase in the Air Berlin stake for at least two years.

“This will directly threaten the likes of Lufthansa, who are also worried about the challenging nature of the European airline scene,” said Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StrategicAero Research in London. “It cements not just Etihad’s desire to expand in Europe, but also to draw in customers through its Abu Dhabi hub to connect to onward destinations like Asia and Australasia.”

Etihad is the second Gulf airline to make a major equity investment in Europe this year. In September, Qatar Airways bought a 35 percent stake in Cargolux, Europe’s largest freight carrier, which is based in Luxembourg.

Air Berlin, which has not recorded an annual profit in four years, had been seeking a strategic partner for some time and had reportedly approached a number of carriers in the Middle East and Asia about a deal in recent months following the resignation of its founder and chief executive, Joachim Hunold, in August.

The German discount airline’s net debt has risen to around €640 million in November from €489 million at the end of 2010, putting pressure on it to cut costs. To that end, Air Berlin plans to reduce the size of its fleet by 10 percent and has postponed the delivery of 19 new Airbus and Boeing jets that had been scheduled for delivery in 2012 and 2013.

Etihad Airways begins flights to China's Chengdu

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, yesterday began scheduled services between its hub in Abu Dhabi and Chengdu in southwest China.

Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, will be served by four non-stop services per week.

The chief executive Officer of Etihad Airways, James Hogan, said the new route had special significance as the first and only direct flight between Sichuan province and the UAE.

"This is a day of cele-bration for the airline and the communities at both ends of the route. The new services will open convenient new gateways for travel to and from Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and stimulate growth of trade between the UAE and China, already the Emirates' third largest trading partner."

Demand forecast

Hogan said forecast demand from the passenger and cargo sectors was strong and the airline expected to go daily when commercially viable.

"The Chengdu Mun-icipal Government and airport authorities have been great supporters and we look forward to working together to make the route a commercial success."

The Mayor of Chengdu, Honglin Ge, said: "The commencement of Etihad Airways services to Chengdu is an exciting event for the people of Chengdu and we are delighted to welcome them joining us to promote the development of an air transport hub in Chengdu."

Etihad Airways will operate a two-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft on the sector with 22 Pearl Business class and 240 Coral Economy class seats.

Award winner

Etihad Airways has been honoured for its commitment to the environment at China's 2011 Top Travel magazine awards.

The Environmental Contribution of the Year Award is bestowed annually on travel companies that demonstrate global leadership in corporate social responsibility. The honour was for the airline's efforts in saving washing water and cleaning fluids, and for an improvement in fuel efficiency from reduced aircraft drag.

The CEO of Etihad Airways, James Hogan, said the airline was delighted to win the award.

Etihad Airways orders ten Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners

Etihad Airways has announced an order for ten Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, making Etihad the world's largest customer for this aircraft.

The order also included two Boeing 777 Freighters. Etihad, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has a total of 41 787s on order.

"Our decision to expand our Dreamliner fleet is testimony to Etihad's commitment to operating one of the youngest and most fuel efficient fleets in the skies," says Etihad Airways

CEO James Hogan.

"It also reflects our confidence in the 787's ability to have a significant impact on our operating efficiencies and the passenger experience we can offer onboard this revolutionary aircraft."

The construction of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is 50% composite materials.

Etihad Airways celebrates three years in Russia

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is celebrating three years of its non-stop service between Abu Dhabi and Moscow.
The airline commenced operations to the Russian capital on December 1, 2008, and since then has carried almost 200,000 travellers on the route.
Five weekly flights became a daily service in 2009, and seat load factors have increased in each year of operation.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer, said: “Over the past three years, we have worked hard to respond to growing demand from business as well as leisure travellers in what is one of the key destinations on our network.
“With the addition of a number of new network connections in 2011, we are on track to carry a record number of passengers on the Abu Dhabi-Moscow route this year.
“Our aim is to be the airline of choice for business and leisure travellers, whether flying to Abu Dhabi or transferring through to destinations across the GCC, Indian Sub-Continent, Southeast Asia and Australia.”
Etihad Airways operates a two-cabin Airbus A320 aircraft between Abu Dhabi and Moscow. This configuration means 1,904 seats a week – 224 in Pearl Business, and 1,680 in Coral Economy.
Guests travelling to Moscow in Pearl Business have access to Etihad Airways’ premium complementary door-to-door luxury limousine service, complete with a personal chauffeur (within the Moscow MKAD Ring Road to and from the airport).
Since May 2010, the airline has also made it easier for Russian nationals to obtain a UAE visiting visa, through the TT Services online visa application centre.
In August this year, Etihad Airways expanded its codeshare agreement with Russia’s S7 Airlines. The revised deal allows Etihad Airways and S7 passengers to book flights from four Russian regional cities, Kazan (KZN), Samara (KUF), Krasnodar (KRR) and Saint Petersburg (LED) for travel to and from Abu Dhabi and beyond, connecting with Etihad Airways’ daily Moscow services.
“We remain committed to building the Etihad Airways brand in the Russian market, offering customers great choice, connectivity, and value,” said Mr Hogan.
“Working closely with our codeshare partner S7 Airlines, the travel industry, the business community and governments, we look forward to deepening the strong relationship between Russia and the United Arab Emirates.”

Etihad Airways puts on more flights from Manchester Airport

Etihad Airways has reached what it calls a duo of "significant milestones" at Manchester Airport.

Earlier in the week (August 2nd), the airline announced that it would now be operating 14 services each week from the north-west travel hub to its base in Abu Dhabi.

This is in addition to the 21 return flights that it runs from Heathrow Airport.

The other milestone announced this week by the national airline of the United Arab Emirates is that it has opened a new maintenance facility in Manchester - its second in England - which will help to create more jobs for local people.

All scheduled and non-schedule line upkeep will be conducted at the facility, with an expert team boasting 50 years' experience between them employed to manage the operations.

Etihad Airways vice-president for maintenance Jeff Wilkinson said: "Our investment in Manchester illustrates the remarkable growth of the airline, our ambition to bring key services in-house in markets we operate to and also to recruit locally."

In 2010, the airline was awarded the top slot in the World's Best First Class category by travellers voting in the annual Skytrax survey.