Etihad Airways signs deal with Virgin Blue of Australia

Mumbai, Nov 6 (UNI) Etihad Airways has signed an air deal with Virgin Blue of Australia to provide customers of the Gulf Airlines a greater access to destinations in Australia.

The agreement, which comes into effect immediately, will enable Etihad's customers to travel seamlessly from Abu Dhabi to both Sydney and Brisbane and then connect on to 22 cities across Australia, an airlines' statement said today.

Etihad launched its daily service from Abu Dhabi to Sydney in March 2007, which was followed in September by the opening of its three flights a week service to the Queensland capital, Brisbane.

The Gulf-based air carrier has also plans to increase the Abu Dhabi-Sydney service to eleven flights a week from March next year, the company said.

Virgin Blue flies to some of the most popular Australian cities including Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Cairns and Darwin.

UNI