Etihad commences major Indian expansion
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Etihad Airways has commenced major expansion of its Indian operations, following the approval of 24% investment in
Jet Airways.
The airline will use Abu Dhabi has a global hub connecting international passengers and freight with flights to and from India.
The first stage of the airline’s expansion strategy includes additional flights and the introduction of larger aircraft on existing routes in India.
With immediate effect, Etihad will increase Mumbai and Delhi flights from seven to 14 flights per week, seven to 14 flights per week from Kochi starting June 2014, Bengaluru and Chennai from July 2014 and Hyderbad from October 2014.
On the Abu Dhabi-Mumbai and Abu Dhabi-New Delhi route, the airline will upgrade the evening flights with wide-bodied A330 and A340 aircraft from the existing narrow-bodied Airbus A320s. On the Mumbai services, this includes introduction of Diamond First Class private suites on the evening A340 flights. New Airbus A321 aircraft, seating 174 passengers, will be used on all Abu Dhabi-Chennai services, and between Abu Dhabi and Kochi from June 2014.
Subject to regulatory approvals in a range of countries, Etihad Airways and Jet Airways also plan to codeshare on each other’s flights between Abu Dhabi, India and other markets in the Middle East, North America and Europe. Etihad Airways will also codeshare on new flights by Jet Airways’ between India and the USA, via the Abu Dhabi hub, subject to regulatory approval.
“India is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing air travel markets, and will play an increasingly important role in our growth. Through our purchase of 24% of Jet Airways – the first foreign investment permitted in an Indian airline – we have laid the foundations for major and exciting growth in air services between Abu Dhabi and India, and beyond throughout our global network. Subject to receiving regulatory approvals, we will continue to expand our Abu Dhabi – India operations and work with our growing stable of partners to accommodate strong growth and deliver much greater choice for travel to and from India,” said James Hogan, president and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways.
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