Etihad Airways to Launch Daily Perth Flights

Etihad Airways is to launch daily flights to Perth, Western Australia, on 15 July 2014.

The non-stop services between the airline’s hub and its fourth Australian gateway bring to 351 the number of weekly flights which Etihad Airways operates between Australia and Abu Dhabi.

An Airbus A330-200 aircraft with 262 seats – 22 seats in Pearl Business Class and 240 in Coral Economy Class – will fly the route.

“The new services will build the first ever commercial air bridge between Perth and Abu Dhabi and will cater to the growing demand for travel between these two points and beyond to Africa, the Middle East and Europe,” said Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive, James Hogan. “Our analysis shows there is a significant business opportunity on the Perth route. Overseas visitor numbers are growing at a steady rate of around seven per cent overall – with several markets to which we fly – such as Germany, France, Italy and Ireland – recording an increase in visitor numbers of between 8.5% and approximately 30% in the 2012/13 financial year. Significantly, arrivals from the Middle East grew at more than 104% over the same period. Western Australians, too, are travelling overseas in increasingly large numbers with an average annual growth rate of 8.5% over the past three years.”

Mr Hogan highlighted the importance of the airline’s partnership with Virgin Australia to the success of the route.

“Our partnership with Virgin Australia and codeshare flights to 14 towns and cities in its Western Australia regional network adds immensely to the strength of the business case for the route and the appeal of our consumer offering. From day one, travellers throughout Western Australia will be able to connect seamlessly in Perth to our international flights; likewise, international travellers will have the opportunity to explore the state’s abundant visitor attractions and diverse landscapes. Together, we will offer travellers a winning proposition – the convenience of a single ticket purchase, through-checked baggage, convenient flight connections, and best-in-class service,” Mr Hogan said.

Etihad Airways codeshares with Virgin Australia to Albany, Broome, Busselton, Derby, Esperance, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Kununurra, Karratha, Learmonth, Paraburdoo, Port Hedland, Ravensthorpe and Newman.

The new Perth flights augment Etihad Airways’ existing services to Australia – double daily to Sydney in conjunction with Virgin Australia, and daily to Brisbane and Melbourne.