Corporate and leisure Guests have plenty to smile about following the launch of Etihad Airways’ four-flights-a-week services between Abu Dhabi and Casablanca yesterday (Friday 2 June).
The UAE national airline’s new route starts at a time when business and tourism opportunities between the UAE and Morocco are booming.
Business between both countries totalled $125 million last year, up a staggering 94 percent on 2004 figures, and hospitality-oriented projects are on the increase.
“These are extremely exciting times for Etihad, the UAE and Morocco,” said
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Airways. “Our new service to Casablanca will allow both countries to build on favourable bi-lateral investment ties, whilst helping to raise the leisure profile of both countries.”
Etihad is operating its new state-of-the-art, two-zone Airbus A330-200 on its 32nd route, which is configured to carry 22 Guests in Pearl and 240 Guests in Coral zone.
The A330-200 in-flight experience offers exceptional Guest services, such as flat business-beds in Pearl zone, and Coral zone seats that are the widest of any international airline.
In addition to Guest services, Etihad Crystal Cargo will be able to carry approximately 14 tonnes of cargo on each flight.
The world’s leading new airline is flying four times weekly between the two cities. EY 609 departs every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from Abu Dhabi at 02.20, and arrives at Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport at 07.20.
The return flight, EY 610, then departs from Casablanca at 08.50, and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 20.05.
Abbas Al Ali, Etihad’s Manager for Morocco, said Etihad will set the standard for international airlines servicing the Morocco market.
“We believe that there is enormous demand for our offering to Abu Dhabi and beyond,” he said. “And with Moroccan transit traffic to Asian markets on the rise, we think that Abu Dhabi’s location and facilities make Etihad Airways the ideal travel partner for Morocco’s business and leisure travellers.”
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is the world’s leading new airline and will now offer flights for Guests and cargo to more than 40 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.
Etihad Crystal Cargo – www.crystalcargo.ae – offers a comprehensive range of cargo services throughout Etihad’s network, and services its many all-cargo destinations and world-wide charters with a fleet of modern regional freighter aircraft.
Etihad Holidays - www.etihadholidays.com - offers a range of innovative holiday options including skiing, fly-drives, cruises, tours, stopovers, inbound programmes and city breaks.
Its new summer 2006 holiday brochure features more than 300 apartments and hotels in 82 destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. Etihad Airways offers a Lowest Price Guarantee to its Guests as well as discounts on bookings made 30 days before departure.
For more information about this award-winning aviation group, please visit www.etihadairways.com
