Etihad Airways plan Kuwait

Mumbai, June 20 (UNI) Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates and the two-time winner of ''The World's Leading New Airline'' award, is launching its service from India to Kuwait with a stop in Abu Dhabi starting July 1, 2006.

That apart, the Airways is also starting service to Khartoum from July 5, 2006 targeting the business and tourism travel between the cities.

With the launch of these new services from India, Etihad Airways will have 14 new destinations added to its network in just five months. We will now offer flights to guests and cargo to a total of more than 34 destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Africa and North America from India, the Airways' press release said.

Commenting on the fast growing expansion Plans for Etihad Airways in India, Area Manager- Western and southern India, Ms Neeraja Bhatia said,''The airline is growing at a phenomenal pace, adding almost one new route a month. The importance of the Indian market to us can be gauged from the fact that India is the third largest country in our network.'' Currently, Etihad airways have 7 flights a week from Mumbai and 3 flights a week from Delhi to Abu Dhabi. From July 1, 2006, Etihad will operate six flights a week between Abu Dhabi and Kuwait. Kuwait is a popular route for both intra-regional and global business travellers. The new route will also increase the capabilities of Etihad Crystal Cargo, to carry a maximum of 20 tonnes of cargo on each flight.

The thrice weekly service starting from July 5, 2006 between Abu Dhabi and the Sudanese capital of Khartoum will be warmly welcomed by more than 40,000 Sudanese and Indians in the UAE. The service will also compliment the current Etihad Crystal Cargo freighter operations between Abu Dhabi and Khartoum.

Etihad Airways has recently added flights from India to Jeddah, Casablanca and Doha (June 18, 2006) via Abu Dhabi.

Ms Bhatia further commented,''Jeddah is Etihad's third destination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, complimenting existing flights to Riyadh and Dammam. We are offering more seats and more choice to over two million pilgrims who travel through Jeddah to take part in the important religious festival during the annual Haj season. We have become the only airline to offer direct, non-stop flights from the capital of UAE to the Moroccan City, Casablanca.'' UNI SN PM SRS HT1758