Etihad Airways outlines major expansion of Australian operations
Etihad Airways president and CEO James Hogan, speaking at the CAPA Australia Pacific Aviation Summit, outlined (07-Aug-2013) a range of major changes to its Australian operations, including new aircraft, new routes, additional services and new airport facilities. Mr Hogan said the airline's future steps for Australia included:
- Operating A380 aircraft from Sydney and Melbourne to Abu Dhabi;
- Construction of premium lounges at Sydney and Melbourne Airports from 2014;
- Additional services from Melbourne and Brisbane to Abu Dhabi;
- Commencement of nonstop service between Perth and Abu Dhabi;
He also reaffirmed that Etihad Airways was already moving to increase its equity in Virgin Australia, following recent approval by the Foreign Investment Review Board to increase from a 10% shareholding to 19.9%. Mr Hogan said Virgin Australia is a "key member of our ever-expanding airline equity alliance, and Etihad Airways is an active and long-term investor in Virgin." Mr Hogan also highlighted the contribution of codeshare partners such as Air France, KLM, Alitalia and Air Serbia to strengthening Etihad Airways' position between Australia and Europe. [more - original PR]