Etihad claims near total seat occupancy

Kozhikode, Aug 19 (UNI) The United Arab Emirates-based Etihad Airways today said it was getting overwhelming response from passengers with near total seat occupancy in Kozhikode-Abu Dhabi Sector.

''Our flights are more than 90 per cent full'' despite stiff competition from other airlines, Etihad General Manager for India and Sri Lanka Neerja Bhatia today claimed.

She was talking at a function here to celebrate his launch of a daily flight service by the airways on August two.

Chief Executive Officer James Hogan said, Etihad, now operating flights to six destinations in India, also secured flying rights to Kolkata and Jaipur and hopes to get approval for expansion to Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore and Hyderabad soon.

''With such an overwhelming demand from air travellers Etihad looks forward to opening more routes across the country,'' he added.

Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) Director M Shiv Shankar, while complimenting the airline, said the efforts made by Etihad would herald a new chapter in tourism development in the state.

He said the KTDC proposed to have road shows in Milan, Frankfurt, Burssels, Paris, Geneva and London, the routes served by Etihad, in November-December this year aimed at attracting foreign tourists to the state.

Other European destinations covered by the Airlines were Munich, Dublin and Manchester.

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