Etihad, Virgin Blue find a way around Heathrow
Etihad Airways and partner Virgin Blue will place heavy emphasis on corporate accounts following draft approval of their alliance by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC).
The Etihad deal will put pressure on Qantas’s Kangaroo route to London where it has its own alliance with British Airways.
Virgin Blue would be able to offer flights through Abu Dhabi to mainland Europe without the need to route them through Heathrow.
Said James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, “With our frequent flyer programs working together, Etihad and Virgin Blue offer a compelling travel option for corporate travel accounts worldwide, and we look forward to focusing on this important segment.â€
From February 2011, Virgin Blue’s international arm, V Australia, will launch direct services to Abu Dhabi, giving Etihad and V Australia a total of 27 weekly services between Abu Dhabi and Australia.
These services include double-daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Sydney, daily between Abu Dhabi and Melbourne, and six frequencies per week between Abu Dhabi and Brisbane.
Etihad is likely to further assess services to Perth to build on its relationship with Virgin Blue in Australia.
Ian Jarrett
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