The new kanagroo route is the way to travel!

With decades of travel to Europe having been along the traditional kangaroo route, the entry into the Australian market place over recent years of a number of Middle East carriers, including Etihad has changed the travel picture somewhat, offering travellers a very different, new and exciting way to travel to Europe.

[Pictured above an Etihad Airbus]

Last week for World Travel Market 2008, The Mole travelled to London with Etihad and while when the Abu Dhabi based national airline of the United Arab Emirates, launched in Australia a number of people said “Eti what”, there is no doubt that this five year old airline is quickly becoming one of the leading airlines in the world and exceptionally well known for high quality of service and facilities.

Personally, I like the middle east route option very much as it gives you the long leg of 15 or so hours from Sydney to Abu Dhabi at the beginning of the mammoth journey to the UK, allowing time to have a meal, glass of wine and a rest followed after quick stop over in Abu Dhabi, by the shorter 8 hr leg which allows time to prepare for arrival in London!

Led by former Aussie airline senior exec James Hogan,Etihad Airways has also increased from seven to eleven the number of services from its home base in Abu Dhabi to Sydney.

[Pictured left – Etihad first class]

The increase in services is part of the airline’s ambitious growth plans for Australia with new services from Melbourne launching in March 2009 to add to its existing Sydney and Brisbane routes, with the Melbourne service launch last week at World Travel Market in London with Danii Minogue – watch out for The Mole’s interview with Danii.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said recently, â€œSydney has been one of Etihad’s most successful route launches in our five-year history and is a hugely important destination in our global network.”

“Abu Dhabi’s central geographic location makes it ideal as a gateway for air travellers from Australia to connect to Europe, Africa and throughout the Middle East.” 

[Pictured left: Etihad’s cosy Business Class cabin – there were two of these.]

“The increased Sydney flights will provide our customers with more options and better connections to and from Australia.”

Passengers heading to Australia from Etihad destinations in Europe and the Middle East can now choose from a morning or evening departure to Sydney, allowing a smooth transfer through Abu Dhabi airport.

Among the destinations which will provide a seamless transfer to the Sydney flight are Bahrain, Doha, Muscat, Cairo, Beirut, Damascus, Amman as well as Dublin, London Heathrow and Paris.

Etihad operates a brand-new Airbus A340-600 to Sydney which offers 12 seats in first class, pictured above, 30 in business class above and 244 in economy pictured below.

First and business class customers can take advantage of Etihad’s free chauffer drive service in Sydney which aims to eliminate the stresses of getting to and from the airport – I was fortuante enough to experience this both ends and it is an amazing and hassle free way of de-stressing travel – in the famously slow arrival London Heathrow Terminal Three, I was off the aircraft, through immigration and customs and………..in my limousine on the motorway in 30 minutes – beat that!

A Report by The Mole on location in London from World Travel Market 2008 brough to you by Etihad