Bangkok--16 Aug--Total Quality PR Etihad Airways, The National Airline of the United Arab Emirates, which operates highly popular twice daily flights from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi and onwards to 45 destinations around the globe, is to increase its flying programme by 21 per cent at the end of October when the airline will also bid to attract more travellers with the introduction of new flight timings to improve connecting services. The Abu Dhabi-based airline will boost its weekly flights from 564 to 716 for the global aviation industry’s winter season which starts on 28 October with most of the increases set to take-off in the GCC, Europe and the Indian subcontinent. The extra flights will improve 17 routes across Etihad’s global network including Bahrain, which doubles from 14 to 28 flights a week and Muscat jumps from seven to 21 flights a week. Etihad’s strong network across the Middle East will be strengthened further with increases on routes to Doha, from seven to 14 flights a week, Amman from six to daily and Damascus from five to daily. Etihad flights to Frankfurt will increase from seven to 10 a week, Geneva moves from three to four flights a week, Dublin goes from four to six flights a week and London Heathrow rises from 14 to 19 flights a week. James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “Customers will benefit tremendously with the extra number of flights and a much improved timetable which will see better, shorter and more frequent flight transfer connections at our Abu Dhabi base. “By adding depth and frequency to our expanding route network we are able to offer a simpler, more convenient travel experience for the flying public.” The airline’s services to the Indian subcontinent will receive a significant boost as Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, Etihad’s two Kerala routes, and the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka, will all increase to daily flights. About Etihad Airways Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates based in the UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi. Currently Etihad offers flights to 45 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. For further details: Etihad Airways Corporate Communications: Tel: 02 253 0099 or visit www.etihadairways.com For more information as well as pictures, please contact: Tom Van Blarcom / Ruthaiwan Tanwongwan Total Quality PR (Thailand) Co., Ltd Tel. 02 260 5820 Fax 02 260 5847 — 8 E-mail : [email protected] Click for photo release at www.thaipr.net