Bangkok--Nov 1--eTurboNews
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has completed final preparations for the launch of its new route to Toronto, via Brussels, with EY 501 scheduled to take off from Abu Dhabi International Airport today, Monday 31 October at 13:05.
Etihad flight 501 will be then be welcomed into Brussels International Airport with a celebratory dousing of the aircraft by the fire brigade and finally, a VIP reception at Pearson International Airport, Toronto with maple candies and Belgian chocolates.
H.E Dr Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saif Al Nahyan, the Chairman of Etihad Airways and Chairman of the Civil Aviation Department of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, said, "Our first trans-Atlantic flight to Toronto after only two years of operations heralds further growth for Etihad Airways and will be a launch pad for our services to the USA in summer 2006. Guests are key to our strategic development and the new route will provide choice and flexibility when traveling to Europe and North America, an essential route for trade and tourism."
Etihad Airways will provide three weekly flights to Canada and Belgium further enforcing Etihad Airways ambitious growth plans and linking the UAE with major international destinations.
To further exploit the opportunities of this new destination Etihad Airways has entered into its first code-share agreement with SN Brussels Airlines - which enables the airline's guests to fly to a greater number of important European cities like Rome, Lyon, Strasbourg, Geneva, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Oslo, Berlin, Tempelhof, Hamburg and Vienna, among other important European destinations.
Providing one of the shortest connecting routes between the Middle East and North America, Etihad Airways flight EY 501 will depart from Abu Dhabi to Brussels at 13.05 hours every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and then depart from Brussels to Toronto at 18.50 hours, arriving in Toronto at 21.30 hours.
On the return, Etihad flight EY 502 will fly from Toronto to Brussels at 23.00 hours and then depart Brussels to Abu Dhabi at 13.45 hours the next day, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 23.20 hours. Etihad guests will fly on a luxuriously appointed A330-200 which is configured to hold 18 guests in Diamond, 36 guests in Pearl, and 171 in Coral.
"The launch of this new destination supports one of Etihad's key goals in offering the people of Abu Dhabi and the UAE access to as many of the world's capitals as possible and ensuring Abu Dhabi's role as a hub between East and West, North and South. Etihad hopes to add New York as a destination in 2006," continued H.E Dr Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saif Al Nahyan.
Bilateral trade between Canada and the UAE is expected to double throughout 2005. The Canadian Business Council (CBC) in Abu Dhabi was launched in March 2005, paving the way for further Canadian companies to continue investing and expanding operations in the UAE, especially in the energy, environment, infrastructure, and health sectors.
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is the world's fastest growing airline and currently flies to 19 destinations in the Middle East, N. America, Europe, and Asia.
Together with its divisions Etihad Holidays and Etihad Crystal Cargo, Etihad Airways is changing the way people see the world.
For more information about this award-winning aviation group, please visit www.etihad.ae .
For more information, please contact
[email protected]
http://www.travelwirenews.com/medie End.