Etihad adds third daily frequency to B'luru from March 26

The UAE flag carrier Etihad Airways today announced introduction of the third daily flight between Abu Dhabi and Bengaluru from March 26.

"The triple daily schedule will provide greater choice to local passengers travelling between the two cities, and improved connectivity to destinations across the Gulf, North America and Europe from our Abu Dhabi hub," the airline which owns 26 per cent in Jet Airways said in a statement.

Currently, the airline operates a late night departure from Abu Dhabi, and an early morning service from Bengaluru with a two-class Airbus 321, offering connectivity to and from Doha, Jeddah, London, Dublin, New York and Dallas.
 

Commenting on the new service, Etihad chief executive Peter Baumgartner said, the service expansion is in line with the airline's strategy to offer greater travel options when aircraft availability and market conditions permit.

"The extra flights to Bengaluru will cater to the strong demand between both the cities, and bring closer our global network to and from Bengaluru over our Abu Dhabi hub," Baumgartner added.

Etihad entered Bengaluru in January 2011 with four services a week, rising to daily two months later. Later to meet rising demand it doubled the daily frequencies and since then it has flown over 7 lakh passengers on the route.

The airline said its partner Jet Airways will codeshare on Etihad's enhanced Bengaluru service and also offer connectivity from Bengaluru to other domesitc routes.

The Etihad Aviation Group comprises five businesses-- Etihad Airways, Etihad Airways Engineering, Etihad Airport Services, Hala Group and Airline Equity Partners, and has minority investments in seven airlines--airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Jet Airways, Virgin Australia, and the Swiss-based Darwin Airline trading as Etihad Regional.

From its Abu Dhabi hub, the airline flies to over 110 passenger and cargo destinations in West Asia, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. It has a fleet of over 120 Airbus and Boeing aircraft and 204 more on firm order.