Etihad to launch non-stop flights between Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg this December

Etihad Airways is to launch a twice-a-week, non-stop service between Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg from 3 December 2005.

Every Thursday and Saturday, Etihad’s flight EY603 will fly from Abu Dhabi to Johannesburg at 0045 hours, while EY604 will fly from Johannesburg to Abu Dhabi at 0950 hours. Guests will fly on an Airbus A340-300 configured to host 10 Diamond guests, 30 Pearl guests, and 225 Coral guests.

The South African embassy in Abu Dhabi has reported that South Africa’s exports to the UAE have increased from USD 251 million in 2002 to USD 410.5 million in 2004. Exports during the first quarter of 2005 stand at USD 120.7 million. 

“South Africa enjoys a strong and growing economic relationship with the UAE, and we applaud Etihad Airways’ prudent decision to begin passenger and cargo flights to Johannesburg, one of our largest cities and centre of our commercial enterprise. We also welcome the region’s growing base of holiday makers. The total number of business and holiday travellers who spend a minimum of 48 hours in the UAE has far surpassed the 40,000 persons mark annually,” said H.E. Dikang Moopeloa, South African Ambassador to the UAE.

“And with more than 5,000 economically active South African nationals in the UAE alone, the announcement of an additional, premium air carrier regularly servicing our home country is good news for all of us.”

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