10 September 2008

Etihad Sizzles in Northern Summer

Etihad Airways has enjoyed its busiest northern summer period in its four year history with more than 1.6 million passengers flying onboard the Abu Dhabi-based airlineÃ¢â¬â¢s flights during the months of June, July and August.

Capping a hugely successful northern summer, a record 20,721 passengers flew with Etihad on Friday 1 August making it the airlineÃ¢â¬â¢s busiest day. The northern summer months also saw Etihad flights operate at an average of 83 per cent full, an increase of 46 per cent on the same period from the year before.

Etihad has now flown more than four million passengers across its network of 48 destinations so far in 2008, indicating that the airline is well on track to achieve its target of carrying six million passengers by the end of the year.

James Hogan, Etihad AirwaysÃ¢â¬â¢ chief executive, said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœThe summer has been a great success with more than 1.6 million passengers flying with Etihad Airways. Ã¢â¬ÅâœWhilst June, July and August are traditionally the busiest months of the year for most airlines, the record number of passengers who flew with us underlines the considerable impact Etihad is having on the aviation industry.Ã¢â¬~

Mr Hogan added: Ã¢â¬ÅâœAs ever, we are grateful for the support we continue to receive from Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Abu Dhabi Airport Services and the Department of Transport, whose close cooperation has paved the way for Etihad to extend its global network still further, with the launch of new services to Kazakhstan and Russia in the coming months.Ã¢â¬~

Etihad will boost its flying programme to Australia in October, with an increase to its existing daily service to Sydney to 11 flights per week. The same month will also see Etihad add a third daily flight to London Heathrow, the worldÃ¢â¬â¢s busiest international airport.

A Report By The Mole