ID :
23145
Tue, 10/07/2008 - 14:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/23145
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Etihad continues to fly high
Abu Dhabi, October 7, 2008 (WAM) - Etihad Airways continues to set new records in 2008 with its latest passenger figures for the first nine months which show a 35pc rise on the same period last year.
The Abu Dhabi-based airline carried 4.4 million passengers across its network of current 48 destinations, compared to 3.3 million for the same period in 2007 between 1 January and 30 September. Seat factors in the same period averaged of 75pc, representing a year-on-year increase of seven percentage points, figures showed.
Boosted by its busiest ever summer, Etihad Airways is set to exceed its target of six million passengers by the end of an impressive year, which will also see its global network grow to a half century of destinations and its aircraft fleet grow from 38 to 42 aircraft, said a statement.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways' chief executive, said: 'Despite current market conditions and against an industry backdrop that remains extremely challenging, the performance of our airline during the first nine months of this year was impressive.
'The significant investment we have put into our product and service this year is paying rich dividends and we remain well on track to achieve our target of flying six million passengers by the end of the year.' All Etihad's cabins experienced increased seat factors compared to the same period in 2007 during the first nine months of 2008.
Etihad's services to Asia and Australia turned in a particularly strong performance with overall seat factors averaging 82pc across the region. Passenger loads in the economy cabin averaged 84pc, led by Manila (94pc), Jakarta (90pc), Sydney (87pc) and Bangkok (83pc).
Within Europe, flights to Dublin, Brussels, Manchester and Paris all achieved average seat factors of more than 80pc in economy.
Middle East routes which performed well during the first nine months of the year included Amman and Damascus and both achieved overall average seat factors of 78pc. The Egyptian capital of Cairo remains the airline's most popular African route, which achieved an overall seat factor of 80pc.
The nine month performance was boosted by a record-breaking summer period, with more than 1.6 million passengers flying onboard the Abu Dhabi-based airline's flights during the three months of June, July and August. A record 20,721 passengers flew with Etihad on Friday 1 August making it the airline's busiest day in its near five year history.
Etihad has launched four new destinations so far in 2008, starting flights to Beijing, the Indian cities of Kozhikode (Calicut) and Chennai (Madras) as well as Minsk, the capital city of Belarus. The airline will launch in December non-stop flights from its Abu Dhabi base to Almaty in Kazakhstan and the Russian capital, Moscow. Etihad will also start flying in early March 2009 to Melbourne in Australia and Lagos in Nigeria.
The Abu Dhabi-based airline carried 4.4 million passengers across its network of current 48 destinations, compared to 3.3 million for the same period in 2007 between 1 January and 30 September. Seat factors in the same period averaged of 75pc, representing a year-on-year increase of seven percentage points, figures showed.
Boosted by its busiest ever summer, Etihad Airways is set to exceed its target of six million passengers by the end of an impressive year, which will also see its global network grow to a half century of destinations and its aircraft fleet grow from 38 to 42 aircraft, said a statement.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways' chief executive, said: 'Despite current market conditions and against an industry backdrop that remains extremely challenging, the performance of our airline during the first nine months of this year was impressive.
'The significant investment we have put into our product and service this year is paying rich dividends and we remain well on track to achieve our target of flying six million passengers by the end of the year.' All Etihad's cabins experienced increased seat factors compared to the same period in 2007 during the first nine months of 2008.
Etihad's services to Asia and Australia turned in a particularly strong performance with overall seat factors averaging 82pc across the region. Passenger loads in the economy cabin averaged 84pc, led by Manila (94pc), Jakarta (90pc), Sydney (87pc) and Bangkok (83pc).
Within Europe, flights to Dublin, Brussels, Manchester and Paris all achieved average seat factors of more than 80pc in economy.
Middle East routes which performed well during the first nine months of the year included Amman and Damascus and both achieved overall average seat factors of 78pc. The Egyptian capital of Cairo remains the airline's most popular African route, which achieved an overall seat factor of 80pc.
The nine month performance was boosted by a record-breaking summer period, with more than 1.6 million passengers flying onboard the Abu Dhabi-based airline's flights during the three months of June, July and August. A record 20,721 passengers flew with Etihad on Friday 1 August making it the airline's busiest day in its near five year history.
Etihad has launched four new destinations so far in 2008, starting flights to Beijing, the Indian cities of Kozhikode (Calicut) and Chennai (Madras) as well as Minsk, the capital city of Belarus. The airline will launch in December non-stop flights from its Abu Dhabi base to Almaty in Kazakhstan and the Russian capital, Moscow. Etihad will also start flying in early March 2009 to Melbourne in Australia and Lagos in Nigeria.
