Etihad Airways |
This will bring to 28 the total number of flights Etihad
Airways operates between Australia
and Abu Dhabi,
together with partner airline Virgin Australia.
The additional four services will continue to operate via Singapore in
both directions and provide a new daily link between the city pairs.
James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad
Airways, said the increase in frequency was a game-changing move for the
airline on the Abu Dhabi-Singapore-Australia route.
"Going daily to Brisbane
and Singapore
puts Etihad Airways in a stronger competitive position and will increase the
airline's brand footprint exponentially in these markets.
"We are now able to offer corporate and leisure
travellers a more appealing proposition: more flights, more convenience,
improved connections and a wider choice of destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Gulf Cooperation Countries, and on the
Virgin Australia domestic network.
"These extra flights to Brisbane
and Singapore underscore the
strategic importance of Australia
and the Asia Pacific region and the contribution each makes to the airline's
goal of sustainable profitability.
"We look forward to working with our partners in
government and industry to increase business and leisure tourism and to cement
the route's enduring success."
Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said Etihad's plan to
increase the number of flights was a boost to Queensland's economy and the tourism
industry.
"This will see thousands of extra people a year coming
into Queensland,
injecting millions of dollars into our economy and resulting in more jobs being
created," said Mr Newman.
"More flights into the state opens up opportunities for
international travellers to see some of the many wonderful tourist attractions Queensland has to
offer."
Etihad Airways commenced thrice weekly flights to Brisbane and Singapore on September 28, 2007.
The Queensland capital was the airline's
second destination in Australia
and the 43rd in its global network..
It operates an Airbus A330-200 aircraft on the Abu
Dhabi-Singapore-Brisbane route. The aircraft is configured in two classes with
22 seats in Pearl Business Class and 240 seats in Coral Economy Class.
Etihad Airways has access to a total of 42 flights per week
to Australia,
35 to direct gateways and seven via or on to regional hub. It currently employs
more than 100 staff in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne and maintains seven
premises, including two dedicated aircraft maintenance facilities at Sydney and
Melbourne airports. The airline employs a total of 56 Singaporean nationals
across its global network. This number includes seven pilots and 27 cabin crew.
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