FROM February 6, 2017, Etihad Airways will operate a double-daily schedule between Abu Dhabi and Sydney, which results in three extra weekly flights.
Flights will depart at 09.25 from Abu Dhabi (EY450) and arrive in Sydney at 06.15 one day later. The return flight will depart Sydney at 16.20 and land in Abu Dhabi at 23.55 on the same day. Operated by a three-class Boeing 777-300ER, this addition increases flights from four to seven per week.
This enhancement to the airline’s Sydney schedule comes with the move by strategic partner Virgin Australia to shift its Australia to Abu Dhabi operation from Sydney to Perth from June 9, 2017.
Expanding the codeshare agreement, Etihad Airways will also add its EY code to Virgin Australia’s new three weekly Perth-Abu Dhabi flights.
To maintain schedule continuity, Etihad Airways will operate its three new weekly Sydney services at the same timings as Virgin Australia’s current Sydney-Abu Dhabi flights, on which Etihad Airways has placed its EY code since February 2011.
Etihad Airways’ CEO, Peter Baumgartner, said: “Australia is a critical part of our network, and we will continue to add capacity in order to meet the growing two-way demand for business and leisure travel.
“The allocation of our newest equipment, the A380 and B787, to all four Australian gateways, and investment of our next-generation product and service offering demonstrate our commitment to this highly competitive market.”
The combined impact of the additional Sydney capacity and new codeshare with Virgin Australia is an increase in the UAE flag carrier’s Australian footprint from 42 to 45 weekly flights.
