ID :
114137
Tue, 03/30/2010 - 15:25
Auther :

Hogan: Etihad's Abu Dhabi-Tokyo route a milestone in UAE-Japanese relations

Tokyo, Mar 30, 2010 (WAM)- Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, stressed that the launch on Sunday of its non-stop service to Tokyo is another milestone on the strong economic, political, cultural and social relations between the UAE and Japan.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways' Chief Executive Officer, in a press conference noted that the launch of the first non-stop service between Abu Dhabi and Tokyo was a historic moment for the carrier. Etihad has become the first Middle Eastern airline to operate to the Japanese capital, according to Hogan.
The carrier is expecting a high volume of traffic on the route, particularly business travellers.
In a presentation on the history of Etihad, Hogan noted that the carrier had placed one of the largest aircraft orders in commercial aviation history at the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK in 2008.
The total deal for up to 205 wide-body and narrow-body planes is worth approximately US$43 billion at list prices. It comprises 100 firm orders, 55 options and 50 purchase rights in a combination of Boeing and Airbus aircraft.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed today to establish a sister-airport relationship between Abu Dhabi International Airport and Tokyo-Narita International Airport is Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, launched its new "Nagoya via Abu Dhabi" service for its customers in Saudi Arabia on 3 February 2010. The company operates four flights a week to this Japanese city, and it is also scheduled to operate flights from Riyadh and Dammam to Tokyo via Abu Dhabi.
Etihad last year obtained the approval to operate five flights per week from its operation base in Abu Dhabi to the Japanese capital Tokyo. It is the first Gulf airline to fly to Nagoya, a destination for businessmen because it is a major port city and an economic and industrial centre renowned for its automotive, aviation, textile, and manufacturing industries.
Trade between Japan and Saudi Arabia has grown tremendously in the past years, with last year figures putting the volume at about SR175 billion.
Growing numbers of Gulf businessmen visited Japan in the past few years. The Etihad flights will also allow approximately 88,000 Japanese living in the Middle East to choose their flight times easily and without booking difficulties.
The launch of the Japan flights followed Etihad's successful opening of a new terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport, which enhanced the luxury ground services offered by the airlines. Facilities in the new terminal include a health club, a cigar lounge, special services for children and meeting rooms.

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