Etihad Airways will greatly increase options for travel to and from India, introducing more flights and wide-bodied jets by the end of 2013, and further increases and new routes next year, subject to regulatory approval.
From 1 November this year, Etihad Airways plans to more than triple the number of seats it now offers on the prime Abu Dhabi - Mumbai and Abu Dhabi - New Delhi routes, reflecting the growing importance of the Indian market, and delivering significant economic benefits to the economies of India and Abu Dhabi.
Enriching the expanded schedules will be new connection opportunities between Etihad's global network and its expanded Indian services, via the airline's Abu Dhabi hub.
By 31 December, 2013, Etihad Airways plans to:
- Increase from daily to double-daily its Abu Dhabi-Mumbai and Abu Dhabi-New Delhi flights;
- Use wide-bodied Airbus A340-600 aircraft on one of the daily Abu Dhabi - Mumbai flights, offering First, Business and Economy Classes;
- Use wide-bodied Airbus A330-200 aircraft on one of the daily Abu Dhabi - New Delhi flights, offering Business and Economy Class; and
- Upgrade daily Abu Dhabi - Chennai flights from 136-seat Airbus A320s to new Airbus A321s, seating 174 passengers.
Subject to regulatory approval, Etihad also intends to codeshare on a wide range of flights operated within India by Jet Airways.
Specific details of new routes between Abu Dhabi and India and codeshare services with Jet Airways will be announced progressively, as approvals are received and operational details are finalized.
Source: Etihad Airways