Summer travel: Etihad Airways adds new routes to Antalya, Bali, Jaipur and Al Qassim

Etihad Airways has announced a significant expansion of its flight network, introducing new routes and enhancing its global reach.

This strategic move boosts the UAE’s flag carrier’s operational routes to a total of 76 this summer.

New destinations in Asia and the Middle East

In a substantial network expansion, Etihad is launching flights to Bali, Jaipur, and Al Qassim. These routes are already receiving strong demand, indicating their popularity among travellers.

Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive officer at Etihad Airways, highlighted the significance of these new destinations: “We are launching flights to three important sites – Bali, Jaipur, and Al Qassim – which we can see from our forward-bookings are already proving popular with our guests.”

Starting on June 24, Etihad will begin operations to Al Qassim in Saudi Arabia. Known for its rich cultural heritage, bustling markets, and expansive date palm groves, Al Qassim is Etihad’s fourth destination in Saudi Arabia, underscoring the airline’s commitment to connecting the kingdom with the UAE.

A day later, on June 25, Etihad will inaugurate its first flight to Bali, Indonesia. This tropical island, famous for its beaches, rice terraces, and vibrant local culture, will be served by Etihad four times a week. The new route offers a gateway for visitors seeking a quintessential island escape and enhances connectivity between the UAE and Southeast Asia.

Strengthening ties with India

Etihad relaunched its services to Jaipur, also known as the Pink City, on June 16. Jaipur, a major tourist attraction in Rajasthan, marks Etihad’s 11th gateway into India.

This expansion reinforces Etihad’s dedication to the Indian market, providing increased connectivity and convenience for travellers.

Etihad’s seasonal and returning routes

In addition to the new routes, Etihad has commenced operations to several seasonal destinations and returned to popular summer hotspots.

This Eid holiday, Etihad began flying directly to Nice on the French Riviera and Antalya on the Turkish Riviera, enhancing its European summer offerings.

The airline has also resumed flights to the iconic Greek islands of Mykonos and Santorini, catering to the growing demand for summer travel to these idyllic locations.

Etihad has also reinstated its services to the renowned Spanish holiday resort of Málaga earlier in June, adding another favourite European destination to its network.

Enhanced frequencies

As part of its ambitious growth strategy, Etihad has increased frequencies across its network, providing nearly 25 per cent more weekly departures than last summer. This includes additional flights to destinations such as Ahmedabad, Athens, Bangkok, and Colombo, offering travellers more options and greater flexibility.

“Our exciting summer schedule reinforces our commitment to growth, giving our customers the destinations, frequencies, and timings for European and Asian destinations which suit them,” said Neves during the announcement of the new routes.

Boosting Abu Dhabi’s global reach

This expansion not only elevates Etihad’s network but also enhances Abu Dhabi’s global connectivity.

The airline’s robust summer schedule supports the UAE capital’s status as a major international travel hub, offering direct gateways for visitors and seamless connections from Europe, North America, and the GCC.

Flight schedule announced upto May 2024:

Destinations	Change	Total Frequency	Start Date
Colombo	+3 per week	10 per week	January 15, 2024
	+4 per week	14 per week	May 1, 2024
Bangkok	+3 per week	17 per week	February 22, 2024
Copenhagen	Extended year-round	4 per week	March 31, 2024
Athens	+5 per week	12 per week	May 1, 2024
	+2 per week	14 per week	July 15, 2024
Malaga	Summer 24 service	3 per week	June 2, 2024
Santorini	New route	2 per week	June 15, 2024
Nice	New route	2 per week	June 15, 2024
Mykonos	Summer 24 service	2 per week	June 17, 2024
Already announced
Kozhikode	New route	7 per week	January 1, 2024
Thiruvananthapuram	New route	7 per week	January 1, 2024
Boston	New route	4 per week	March 31, 2024
Nairobi	New route	7 per week	May 1, 2024

With these new routes and increased frequencies, Etihad Airways aims to solidify its position as a leading global airline, providing diverse travel options and exceptional connectivity for its passengers.

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