Etihad and Virgin Blue Sign Partnership for Direct Abu Dhabi-Australia Flights
Etihad Airways, the flag airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Virgin Blue Holdings Limited announced their new partnership to enable direct flights from Abu Dabi to Australia by 2011. V Australia, Virgin Blue’s international arm, is scheduled to widen its network of over 100 destinations by October with the newly signed agreement with Etihad.
“The alliance with Etihad allowed it to redefine its long-haul operation and unlock a genuine global network that would be particularly attractive to Virgin Blue’s business and international leisure travelers,” John Borghetti, CEO of Virgin Blue Group of Airlines said.
Fused together, the two airlines will produce a total of 27 weekly flights between Australia to Abu Dhabi. Other services includes a daily Melbourne- Abu Dhabi flight, double-daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Sydney, and six frequent services between Brisbane and Abu Dhabi weekly.
Using three-class Boeing 777-300ERs, V Australia is set to operate three flights between Abu Dhabi and Sydney per week starting February 2011, and three services between Brisbane and Abu Dhabi weekly by February 2012. Since its recent birth in 2006, V Australia has pursued an aggressive route expansion. Thanks to the partnership, it is the first Australian airline to operate in the Middle East region since 1991.
Starting October, Etihad and Virgin Blue customers can access the wider range of combined destinations of both airlines. Virgin Blue customers can check out Etihad’s network of 65 destinations across the Middle East, North America, Europe, and India. Etihad flyers, meanwhile, can access Virgin Blue’s 44 destinations across Australia, New Zealand, Los Angeles, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
“We are excited to facilitate the entry of V Australia into Abu Dhabi as the first Australian airline to fly to the United Arab Emirates,” James Hogan, CEO of Etihad Airways said. “Australia is a critically important market for Etihad and we are very pleased to be able to provide more capacity on our Australian routes through this partnership.”
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