Abu Dhabi-Bangkok route the airline’s busiest for the past four years
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, in April celebrated 10 years of service to the Thai capital, Bangkok.
The Abu Dhabi-based airline commenced services to Thailand in April 2004 with four weekly Airbus A340-500 and, in response to strong market demand, has increased frequency to three flights daily using a larger Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. This offers a total of 15,960 seats each week between the two capitals.
Co-pilot and crew of the Etihad Airways flight departing Bangkok on the day of the Airline’s 10th anniversary, welcome guests at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The Abu Dhabi-Bangkok sector is the busiest on Etihad Airways’ global network. In 2013, the airline carried 742,759 passengers on the route, seven percent more than in 2012. It has the distinction of being the airline’s most travelled for the past four years.
Kirk Albrow (left), Etihad Airway’s General Manager Thailand, and Chawalit Samadi (right), Etihad Airway’s Bangkok Duty Manager, during the 10th anniversary celebration of Etihad Airways operations in Thailand
James Hogan, president and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways said, “Etihad Airways has a strong track record in Thailand. We owe this success as much to our own organic growth as to the support of the travel industry, Tourism Authority of Thailand, and our codeshare partners – airberlin and Bangkok Airways.
“Our partnerships with airberlin and Bangkok Airways, in particular, have improved traveler access to popular destinations such as Phuket and Koh Samui, dispersing visitors beyond the capital and generating economic benefits for local communities.
“We look forward to many more years of fruitful partnerships and commercial success.”
Etihad Airways recently announced plans to expand its Thai operations with the launch of daily services Phuket on 26 October 2014. The non-stop flights between Abu Dhabi and Phuket will use a two-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft, with 22 Pearl Business seats and 240 Coral Economy seats. These additional services have been scheduled to provide optimal connectivity between Phuket and key markets across Europe and the GCC.
To cater for the needs of Thai travelers, Etihad Airways offers a range of special guest services which include Thai-speaking cabin crew, special inflight menus and a Thai-language website.
Etihad Airways is celebrating this milestone with a 10th anniversary sale offering great value airfares to the airline’s Top 10 destinations. For more information, visit a travel agent or the airline’s website www.etihad.com/th
