Etihad Airways set to launch to Milan in September

Airline Code [ETD] View More Etihad Airways News

(CAPA) Etihad Airways announced plans to launch a new route to the Italian industrial and fashion centre of Milan on 2 September.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline will operate three flights a week to Milan, which will be Etihad’s ninth European destination.

More than 80 Italian companies currently operate in the UAE and early demand for the new flights indicate that much of the traffic on the new route will come from the Italian business community.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “By offering more than 1,200 seats each week from Abu Dhabi to Milan, Etihad will play a key role in the growth of commercial and cultural ties between the UAE and Italy. Business and leisure travellers from both countries will be able to travel frequently, which will increase bilateral trade, especially in tourism.”

According to recent figures UAE-Italian trade amounted to AED17 billion in 2006, an increase of 28 per cent over the previous year. Furthermore, Italian exports to the UAE, in the period of January to April 2007, stood at AED 6.3 billion which is an increase of 30 per cent over the same period in 2006.

Initial demand for the new Abu Dhabi to Milan service has been reported as “considerable”, attributed to the introductory fares Etihad is offering its passengers. Return fares start from AED1330 for economy, AED7330 for business class and AED9330 for first class.

On the route Etihad will operate a three-cabin A330-200 aircraft which is configured to carry 12 passengers in first class, 26 in business class and 164 in economy, a total of 202 passengers.

Back