Gulf carrier Etihad Airways and Jet Airways investment partner Etihad today announced expansion of its flight services and route network here and said it would add 28 additional flights per week and three new destinations between Abu Dhabi and India, starting early next year.
Etihad currently operates 175 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi from 11 Indian cities. However, together, Etihad Airways and Jet Airways offer 252 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and 15 cities across India.
The addition of three new cities would increase Etihad-Jet Airways' Indian network to 18 cities with 280 flights per week, a release said today.
Etihad Airways holds 24 per cent stake in Jet Airways, which is the second largest domestic carrier in terms of market share.
The expansion aims at further strengthening the partnership between the two carriers in one of the world's fastest growing aviation markets, the release said adding it would also enhance connections between India and the rest of the world though Etihad Airways' convenient Abu Dhabi hub, and complement Jet Airways' non-stop services to other cities.
"Today's announcement reflects how we have been working together to enhance our service... Jet Airways is Etihad's leading equity partner in terms of revenue and passenger contribution," Etihad Aviation Group President and Chief Executive Officer James Hogan said.
As part of the expansion plans, Etihad Airways will launch a fourth daily flight between Abu Dhabi and Kozhikode, starting March 26 next year 2017, which would help the two airlines better serve the important southern India market, the release said.
Etihad Airways also plans to double its frequency between Abu Dhabi and Ahmedabad from February 1 with the launch of a new daily service (subject to government approval).
Meanwhile, Etihad's partner Jet Airways also announced a number of changes in its operations to Abu hub from India.
These include the launch of daily flights between Trichy and Abu Dhabi from February 1, 2017, besides introduction of daily services from Kannur in Kerala to Abu Dhabi as well as daily services between Chandigarh and Abu Dhabi, starting from second half 2017, the airline said in the release.
In addition, from January 15 next year, Jet Airways will introduce a second daily service between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi in addition to the three flights which are currently in operations on the route.
Etihad currently flies to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram from its hub Abu Dhabi.
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