Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22
Trend:
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, have announced the launch of a four times per week service linking Abu Dhabi to Baku, according to airline's press release.
The flights, which commence on 1 October 2015, will be operated using an Airbus A320 aircraft with 16 Business Class and 120 Economy Class seats, offering a total of 1,088 seats per week.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways' President and Chief Executive Officer, said: "The launch of Etihad Airways' flights to Baku's Heydar Aliyev International Airport is consistent with our strategy of targeting areas of strong growth in the fast-growing Caucasus region.
"The new flights will cater for the significant demand for business and leisure travel between Azerbaijan and the UAE, while also providing better access to Azerbaijan for hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani diaspora, particularly those residing in North America.
"Business and leisure travellers out of Azerbaijan will have great opportunities to connect over our Abu Dhabi hub to destinations across the Gulf region, Indian Subcontinent, Asia and North America. Also, the new Abu Dhabi-Baku service will contribute to the development of trade and tourism in Azerbaijan and the UAE, enhancing the already strong ties between both countries."
In 2012, trade turnover between the UAE and Azerbaijan totalled US$400 million, and there are currently more than 12,000 Azerbaijanis living in the UAE.
Etihad Airways began operations in 2003, and in 2013 carried 11.5 million passengers. From its Abu Dhabi base Etihad Airways flies to 110 existing or announced passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. The airline has a fleet of 104 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and more than 200 aircraft on firm order, including 71 Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777-X, 62 Airbus A350s and 10 Airbus A380s. Etihad Airways holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia, Aer Lingus, Air Serbia and Jet Airways, and is in the process of formalising equity investments in Alitalia and Swiss-based Etihad Regional*.
For more information, please visit: http://www.etihad.com/