Etihad Airways to increase Abu Dhabi-Moscow flights

Abu Dhabi, March 14 (IANS/WAM) Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will increase its Abu Dhabi-Moscow services from seven flights per week to double daily from June 1, and then to triple daily from Oct 1 this year.

The UAE flag carrier commenced operations to the Russian capital's Domodedovo airport in December 2008, and since then has carried more than 400,000 travellers.

In 2013 passenger, volumes rose 36 percent compared to 2012 levels, achieving double-digit growth for the fourth consecutive year.

"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," James Hogan, president and chief executive Officer of Etihad Airways, was quoted Friday as saying in a statement.

"With flights three times per day, Etihad Airways provides more convenient services to Abu Dhabi, the UAE and across our global network. Etihad Airways will offer 31 percent of the weekly frequencies between the UAE and Moscow, providing more direct flights than any other carrier," he added.

The flight schedule will also boost onward codeshare connectivity with S7 Airlines beyond the Russian capital to the cities of Kazan, Krasnodar, Saint Petersburg and Samara.

The airline plans to operate a two-cabin Airbus A320 aircraft between Abu Dhabi and Moscow for the triple daily service, meaning 5,712 seats a week -- 672 in business class, and 5,040 in economy class.

--IANS/WAM

ab/dg