Bangkok--31 Mar--Total Quality PR (Thailand) Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates has launched its maiden flight from Abu Dhabi to the Chinese capital Beijing, the latest destination on the airline’s expanding global network. Etihad flight EY888 took off on schedule at 10.05pm on Sunday night, landing at Beijing Capital International Airport’s recently opened terminal 3 at 9.50am the following morning. Prior to departure of the inaugural flight passengers were given a colourful Chinese-themed send off with dancing and entertainment at Abu Dhabi airport to mark the launch of the new service. James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “Etihad Airways is extremely proud to launch our first passenger flights to Beijing and continue the airline’s impressive growth to serve the world’s leading capital and commercial cities. “To open the new Beijing flights six months prior to the Olympic Games is also a special achievement for Etihad Airways and we look forward to welcoming many customers on board our aircraft to the Chinese capital throughout this historic year.” Etihad, the only Gulf carrier operating to Beijing with a fully fat-bed, will offer Chinese language films, English films with Chinese subtitles and Chinese speaking crew in each cabin on the flights. Onboard announcements will also be made in Mandarin as well as English and Arabic. Furthermore the menus will be written in English, Arabic and Chinese and include traditional Chinese dishes with chop sticks available to customers wishing to eat with them. The new Beijing flights are the main highlight of Etihad’s new summer schedule which offers air travellers a greater choice of services and improved flight connections and is almost 50 per cent larger than the same period last year. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier now operates a total of 728 weekly flights compared to 494 in the same season last year. Etihad now offers four flights a week from Abu Dhabi to Beijing, which is the eighth city in the Asia-Pacific region of the airline’s rapidly expanding global flight network. A two class Etihad Airways Airbus A330-200 flies to Beijing, offering a total passenger capacity of more than 2,000 seats every week. The aircraft is configured to carry 262 passengers with 22 in business class and 240 in economy class. In addition to passenger capacity the A330-200 can also carry up to 14 tonnes of cargo in the hold. Etihad’s services to Beijing operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with flight EY888 departing from Abu Dhabi at 10.05pm and arriving in the Chinese capital at 9.50am the next day. Return flight EY889 departs from Beijing every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7.10pm arriving in Abu Dhabi at 00.20am the next day. Photo caption 1: Etihad cabin crew celebrate the airline’s inaugural flight to Beijing (left to right) Hayley Currell, Kee Lichin, Christine Guevara, cabin manager; Hye Young Cha and Mooi Samonte. Photo caption 2: Etihad celebrates the airline’s inaugural flight to Beijing (left to right) Hayley Currell, Kee Lichin; Mooi Samonte; Hye Young Cha; Christine Guevara, cabin manager, and Geert Boven, EVP sales and services. 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, Asia and Australia. For further details: Etihad Airways Corporate Communications: 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]