[ad_1]
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, marked a key milestone by operating its first commercial flight from the much awaited Terminal A at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Flight EY224, bound for New Delhi, departed from Terminal A at 14:35 on October 31, 2023, utilising one of Etihad‘s Airbus A350-1000 aircraft with 359 passengers on board.
Passengers had the opportunity to experience the new flagship Etihad Lounges at Terminal A, featuring three floors. Terminal A is integral to Etihad’s growth strategy, designed to handle up to 45 million passengers annually and connect Abu Dhabi to 117 global destinations. It features dedicated check-in desks for Economy guests and exclusive areas for Business and First class passengers.
The inaugural flight was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony including Etihad and Abu Dhabi Airport Board members and aviation leaders.
“This is a pivotal and exciting moment in Etihad’s history. As we begin to celebrate our 20th anniversary in November, we are ready for the next growth chapter in our new home,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad.
“As we begin our transition to our new home, we look forward to welcoming even more passengers as we continue to grow and expand our fleet and network,” stated Neves.
While Etihad signed a codeshare agreement with Scandinavian Airlines, Emirates has tied up with Batik Air to expand its reach. The guests, under both the agreements, will be able to book on a single ticket. The Etihad and Scandinavian Airlines codeshare launches fully in December 2023, bookable from January and Emirates and Batik Air partnership tickets will be available starting November 1, 2023.
Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Interim CEO at Abu Dhabi Airports emphasised this as an historic moment for Abu Dhabi International Airport and for the partners at Etihad Airways. “The first flight from Terminal A marks a major milestone in the journey of Abu Dhabi’s aviation sector. Terminal A brings a significant increase to capacity, and delivers state-of-the-art facilities to both airlines and passengers. We look forward to welcoming more passengers throughout November as we continue to increase the number of flights departing and arriving at Terminal A,” added Sorlini. Etihad’s new airport lounges at Terminal A offer a wide range of amenities, including dining options, a rooftop cocktail bar, a family room, among others. The Lounge also provides direct boarding access for three aircraft, allowing passengers to board their flights directly from the Lounge.
Etihad plans to transition its flights to Terminal A in a phased approach starting on November 9. Passengers are advised to verify their terminal information within two days of travel during this transition period, as Etihad will operate from both Terminal A and Terminal 3 until November 14, when all flights will operate exclusively from Terminal A.
Source link
