ETIHAD Airways will launch six new routes in the first half of 2015. Daily flights will commence to the European capitals of Madrid (Spain) and Edinburgh (Scotland) next year, together with the state capital of Kolkata (India) and one of the most important business and government centres in East Africa, Entebbe (Uganda).
The airline will also operate four flights a week to the world-class tourism and economic hub, Hong Kong, and three flights a week to Algeria’s vibrant capital and largest city, Algiers.In addition, Etihad Airways’ existing daily flights to Brisbane (Australia), currently operated via Singapore, will become a direct service from June 2015, offering the first non-stop connection between the city and Abu Dhabi. The route will be operated using a three-class Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with the airline’s brand new First Suite, Business Studio and Economy Smart Seat.Further service upgrades in June 2015 include the introduction of a three-class Airbus A330-300 aircraft on daily flights to Singapore, and a three-class Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on daytime flights to Moscow, marking the debut of First Class cabins on both of the existing routes.Etihad Airways’ global passenger and cargo network will increase to 107 destinations following the route expansion in the first half of 2015. The total includes five new routes already launched this year to Madinah Jaipur, Zurich, Los Angeles and Yerevan, together with four upcoming services to Perth, Rome, Phuket and Dallas, which commence over the remainder of 2014.The airline will also continue to increase frequencies on existing services in first half of 2015, providing travellers with even more comprehensive travel choices. Network depth will be added to important markets across the North America, Middle East and Indian subcontinent regions.As part of the Etihad Airways’ ongoing fleet development, nine aircraft are scheduled for delivery in the first half of next year, comprising three Airbus A380s, three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and three A320 family aircraft. The airline currently has 102 aircraft in its fleet, with over 210 additional aircraft on firm order, plus options and purchase rights for 81 further aircraft.Etihad Airways will expand its US network to six destinations with the launch of a San Francisco service in November 2014. Daily flights will be operated to San Francisco International Airport using a three-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft leased from its strategic partner Jet Airways, offering a total of eight seats in First Class, 30 seats in Business Class and 308 seats in Economy Class.San Francisco is the latest addition to Etihad Airways’ US network. The airline currently offers double-daily flights to New York and daily flights to Los Angeles (LAX), Chicago (ORD) and Washington, D.C. (IAD). The service to San Francisco will be followed by flights to Dallas / Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport from December 2014, marking its sixth route within the country. Link for the Launch schedule of new Etihad routes in H1 2015: