[Kurt A]

Other Etihad news:

Etihad flying high in first quarter
Monday, 7 April 2008

Etihad Airways carried 1.4 million passengers during the first three months of 2008, an increase of 40 per cent when compare to the same time last year.

Year-on-year, the airline's seat factor has increased by seven per cent as Etihad continues to expand its global flight schedule. Yield also rose by 25 per cent when compared to the same period last year.

James Hogan, chief executive of Etihad Airways, said: 'The performance of Etihad during the first quarter of 2008 has been outstanding, breaking all previous records.”
“As we continue to expand our global network and strengthen our schedule, we remain confident of achieving our target of carrying six million passengers by the end of the year.”

He added: “I would like to acknowledge the support and close cooperation Etihad continues to receive from Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), Abu Dhabi Airport Services and the Department of Transport in achieving these fantastic figures.'
All of Etihad's cabins experienced increased seat factors compared to the same period in 2007, with particularly strong performances coming from the airline's first and business class cabins.

Etihad's Asia Pacific services turned in a particularly strong performance with overall seat factors averaging 85 per cent across the region, led by Bangkok (91 per cent), Sydney (88 per cent), Manila (86 per cent) and Jakarta (84 per cent).

Within Europe, services to Brussels, Manchester and Paris all achieved average seat factors of 85 per cent, whilst loads to Toronto in North America exceeded 80 per cent.

Routes in the Middle East which performed well during the quarter include Amman and Damascus, achieving average seat factors of 81 per cent and 75 per cent respectively.
Across the network, the airline's award-winning business class cabin achieved an average seat factor of 65 per cent, with particularly strong performances on routes to Toronto (83 per cent), Sydney (85 per cent) and Bangkok (85 per cent).

Hogan said: 'The performance of the premium cabins has certainly been one of the most pleasing features of quarter one.”
“These figures provide positive evidence that the continued investment we are placing during 2008 upon improving the products and services we offer our premium customers is paying dividends.”

Etihad has launched one new destination so far in 2008, starting flights to Beijing on 30 March. Later this year, the airline will also start flights to Kozhikode (Calicut) and Chennai (Madras), after securing flying rights earlier this year to four new destinations in India.
Etihad is currently finalising when it will commence flights to the two other Indian destinations of Jaipur and Kolkata (Calcutta).