Top party time on the Gold Coast…………….
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week celebrated the launch of the Brisbane – Singapore – Abu Dhabi 3 times-a-week service on Saturday, Monday and Thursday.
With Brisbane the gateway to the fastest growing region of Australia and following the success of the Sydney service, Brisbane Etihad Airways says that it is the most successful launch since the airline began in 2003 and Brisbane expected to perform exceptionally well in both business and leisure sectors.
The launch was celebrated on the 80th floor Observation deck of Q1 Resort & Spa, overlooking the night lights of Gold Coast city in Very Gold Coast style, with in attendance Don Morris, Chairman of Tourism Queensland and Geert Boven, Executive Vice President, Sales and Service Etihad Airways, who greeted the guests and acknowledged the Tourism Minister Margaret Keech and the Queensland Government’s efficient and swift processing of the agreement to commence the Brisbane service.
Geert said, “Today is a significant milestone in four years of operations as we celebrate Etihad Airways arrival in Queensland.” “We believe that Brisbane is the ideal destination to add to our flight network and an important addition to our growing global network.”
Cramer Ball, Manager Australia Etihad Airways and the Etihad team from Sydney and Brisbane were also present, joining many wholesalers, retailers and travel and industry representatives and Government officials, enjoying entertainment provided by an Irish band flown in from Dublin for the occasion, highlighting Etihad’s excellent Dublin service.
“South East Queensland attracts the lion’s share of passengers from the UAE” said Pavan Bhatia, Chief Executive Officer of Gold Coast Tourism, who recently set up offices in the UAE, in response to demand from both business and leisure travel sectors and Etihad Airways’ strategy is aligned with the Gold Coast city strategy, targeting both business and leisure travellers.
Tourism Queensland is working closely with Etihad Airways in promoting Queensland in their source market and maintaining the arrival and yield growth from the UAE and Gold Coast City Council and Gold Coast Tourism have also set up a UAE lounge in Surfers Paradise to service the needs of the UAE market in the peak travel period, with the facility staffed by Arabic speaking staff.
Etihad will operate the two cabin Airbus A330-200 which carries 262 passengers including 22 seats in business class (Pearl Zone) and 240 in economy class (Coral Zone, departing Brisbane at 1:25pm and arriving in Singapore at 07:05pm.
Leaving Singapore at 8:25pm to arrive in Abu Dhabi at 11:59pm the service offers very convenient and timely onwards connections to over 45 destinations in Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
An on location report by David Bowman on the Gold Coast from the 80th floor of Q1 Resort & Spa
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