Etihad Airways to start more flights between India and UAE

KOCHI: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will operate more flights between India, the UAE and other key markets around the world, following a major service upgrade to Kochi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kozhikode and Hyderabad this summer.

Due to strong demand from business and leisure travellers, a double-daily frequency will be operated to Bangalore, Chennai and Kozhikode from Tuesday and to Hyderabad from October 1. As a result, travelers have the option of daytime or overnight flights, and improved connections between India and key markets in the GCC, Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America, according to an official release.

The airline will utilise new Airbus A320s, scheduled for delivery this year, to accommodate much of the increased frequencies. Double-daily frequencies were also introduced to Kochi last month, as well as Mumbai and New Delhi in November 2013, supporting a long-term development plan in India.

Kochi flights have also been upgraded with the recent introduction of new Airbus A321 aircraft, while overnight Delhi flights will be further enhanced with three-class Boeing 777s from July 15. In addition to the seven existing or planned double-daily services, Etihad operates daily to Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram and most recently, Jaipur, where flights commenced in April 2014.