Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is preparing to launch its new service to Johannesburg, with flight EY603 scheduled to take off from Abu Dhabi International Airport on Thursday 1 December, at 0045 hours.
The latest route follows Etihad Airways’ ambitious plans to link Abu Dhabi to the world’s most important commercial and cultural centres, and will provide a major service to the 5,000 South African nationals based in the UAE.
“The UAE and South Africa have enjoyed a tremendous bilateral relationship for many years and the new Etihad Johannesburg service will significantly enhance this. Guests will be offered both choice and flexibility with the service, whilst enjoying Etihad’s world-famous hospitality,” said H.E Dr Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saif Al Nahyan, the Chairman of Etihad Airways and Chairman of the Civil Aviation Department of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The Johannesburg route is expected to see a major increase in trade between the two countries, with South African exports to the UAE increasing from USD 251 million in 2002 to USD 410.5 million in 2004.
Known as the Gateway to Africa, Johannesburg is a mélange of African cultures. With a population of more than 3 million people, it is often described as the most cosmopolitan city on the continent.
“South Africa enjoys a strong and growing economic relationship with the UAE, and we applaud Etihad Airways’ prudent decision to begin this passenger and cargo flights to Johannesburg, one of our largest cities and centre of our commercial enterprise, but 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. Dikgang Moopeloa, South African Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
Etihad flight EY603 will fly from Abu Dhabi to Johannesburg at 0045 hours every Thursday and Saturday, with the return flight, EY604, leaving Johannesburg at 0950 hours on the same day.
Guests will fly on a luxuriously appointed Airbus A340-300 configured to host 10 Diamond guests, 30 Pearl guests and 225 Coral guests.
The new route has been launched only a month after Etihad Airways started its three weekly flights to Toronto via Brussels.
