Etihad announces new China flight

Etihad Airways will fly a new route between its base in Abu Dhabi and the Chinese capital of Beijing starting from march 30th. The groundbreaking flight will increase more than just tourism between the countries, with increased trade opportunities opening up as well, according to Etihad’s chief executive, James Hogan.

Hogan says, “China and the UAE are both experiencing massive economic expansion and Etihad Airways is extremely excited at the prospect of helping to strengthen trade ties between the two nations.

There is a huge appetite from business and leisure travellers for flights to Beijing, especially ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games later this year, and our forward bookings are already ahead of our expectations.”

The service will start at four flights per week, with a total of 2,000 seats available. Over 200,000 Chinese call the United Arab Emirates home, and these flights will mean they can stay more connected with their homeland. The UAE has become China’s second largest trading partner in the region, and the airline hopes to capitalize on that with the new service.

www.etihadairways.com