ETIHAD BOLSTERS SUNSHINE STATE TOURIST RUSH
Photo : Glenn Hunt / Brisbane Times
Australia : ETIHAD Airways will increase its three-times-a-week service between Abu Dhabi and Brisbane to a daily service, making it one of the bigger players at Brisbane Airport.
The national airline of the United Arab Emirates started flying between the two cities thrice-weekly five years ago and has 24 flights out of Australia every day, mostly from Sydney and Melbourne. The new Brisbane service will stop over in Singapore and take about 13 hours.
Etihad Airways is Brisbane Airport's 16th-largest international carrier and is likely to move into the top 10 with the change to daily flights.
The Abu Dhabi-based airline still has a greater share of direct traffic between Brisbane and the Middle East, with two return flights a day from Dubai to Brisbane.
The announcement of the daily service was made yesterday in Brisbane by Etihad Airways chief executive James Hogan and Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, with Etihad's "global brand ambassador" Dannii Minogue hosting the event.
Mr Hogan said that the increase in frequency was a "game-changing move" for the airline and greatly expanded its presence in these markets.
"These extra flights to Brisbane and Singapore underscore the strategic importance of Australia and the Asia-Pacific region and the contribution each makes to the airline's goal of sustainable profitability," he said.
17/08/2012 : Andrew Fraser / The Australian.
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