Etihad Airways keen to expand Russian operations

Etihad Airways is celebrating four years of its non-stop service between Moscow and Abu Dhabi. The UAE flag carrier commenced operations to the Russian capital on Dec.1, 2008, and since then has carried almost 250,000 travellers and 620 tonnes of cargo on the route. Five weekly flights became a daily service in 2009, and load factors have increased in each year of operation. Speaking at a press conference in Moscow, James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “The UAE is home to almost 25,000 Russians and 400 Russia-UAE joint venture companies, and as a result, the business and cultural ties between the two countries have never been stronger. Moscow-Abu Dhabi has been a tremendous success with strong load factor and good traffic feeds from our codeshare partner, S7 Airlines. The aim now is to expand services and connectivity over both Abu Dhabi and Moscow with S7.” Etihad Airways codeshares on S7 operated services from Moscow to the Russian cities of Kazan, Samara, Krasnodar and Saint Petersburg. S7 codeshares on Etihad Airways’ daily Moscow-Abu Dhabi service and onwards to Bangkok. Subject to receiving necessary government approvals, the next phase of Etihad Airways’ partnership with S7 will see the Russian carrier’s flight code placed on Etihad Airways’ flights to Sydney and Melbourne. Hogan cited that additional expansion opportunities are also being actively evaluated. Oksana Svetenko, Etihad Airways’ Area General Manager Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus and Natalia Goryunova, Etihad Airways’ General Manager Russia were also present for the press conference in Moscow. From Gulftoday