Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and SN Brussels Airways announced yesterday the start of operations from Abu Dhabi to Brussels, Belgium, at a joint press conference held in the Belgian capital. Etihad will operate three direct weekly flights from Abu Dhabi to Brussels starting from October this year. With the opening of its new route to Brussels, Etihad will enter its first global code share agreement with SN Brussels Airways. For the first time the code share will open a number of important destinations in Europe. Etihad’s guests will be able to book tickets online from the end of July 2005 at www.etihad.ae
Both airlines expressed their optimism for the new route that is expected to significantly enhance the link between the UAE and Europe, as well as provide even more opportunities for business and tourism. SN Brussels Airways currently serves more than 90 destinations in Europe, the Americas and Africa. Similarly to Etihad, it is a young and a successful airline that has experienced rapid growth since it launched in 2002. Both airlines are very optimistic about their future growth and partnership prospects.
“We are very confident that our relationship with SN Brussels will further enable us to deliver truly value added services to our guests and we look forward to a long and a successful partnership,” said Kevin Steele, Etihad’s Head of World Sales, “The opening of this new route is one of several steps currently being taken to expand our global presence and it demonstrates the airline’s ambitious international growth strategy. We are confident this new route and codeshare agreement will provide our guests with more flexibility and easier access to Benelux countries and Europe.“
“With the Belgian community in the UAE growing at a pace of 20% per annum, and an equally dynamic strengthening of business attention from Belgium for the Emirates, and vice versa, the establishment of a direct link between Belgium and Abu Dhabi in a co-operation between SN Brussels Airways and Etihad Airways is a very welcome development,” said H.E. Mr. Marc Van den Reeck, Belgian Ambassador to the UAE. He continued, “I am confident it will provide yet another impetus to the exchanges in terms of trade, business and tourism, to the benefit of all and I wish the project all success. “
Philip Saunders, Executive Vice President Commercial of SN Brussels Airlines, said: “This codeshare relationship with Etihad airways opens up new parts of the world for the customers of SN Brussels Airlines. It represents the fist service to the Gulf and to one of its most dynamic destinations. At the same time, we can also offer now non-stop services to Canada. By working together with Etihad Airways, we can provide our customers a superb in flight service on both new routes.”
Relations between Belgium and the UAE have witnessed steady growth in trade volumes over the past few years, particularly in fine jewelry and diamonds. The Belgium market is of growing importance for the UAE, especially the diamond industry. Antwerp, Belgium’s second largest city and one of the world’s major seaports is also an important diamond hub supplying 70% of all diamonds in the world. Brussels, home to global corporations and international organisations, is renowned for its architecture, arts and magnificent parks.
The new route Abu Dhabi - Brussels also has significant importance for Etihad Crystal Cargo. Etihad Crystal Cargo already moves a significant amount of cargo from the Eastern destinations such as India, Colombo and Thailand via Abu Dhabi to Belgium. At the moment the cargo - primarily equipment, spare parts, auto parts and tires - is shipped via air freight from Abu Dhabi to London or Frankfurt and then transported via truck to Belgium where Etihad Crystal Cargo is represented by Platinum Air Belgium. The direct link Abu Dhabi - Brussels and onwards to Canada will further boost Etihad Crystal Cargo's global infrastructure and service network, providing more flexibility to logistics customers.
Notes to the editors:
Etihad Airways, although a new arrival, now flies to 17 destinations in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. The growing network now serves Amman, Bahrain, Bangkok, Beirut, Cairo, Colombo, Damascus, Dammam, Geneva, Frankfurt, Karachi, London (Heathrow), London (Gatwick), Mumbai, Munich, New Delhi and Riyadh.
In addition to Etihad’s rapidly expanding international routes, the airline has also created Etihad Holidays in record time. Launched in May 2004, Etihad Holidays offers an array of over 170 hotels in more than 35 exciting holiday destinations in 14 countries – from vibrant bustling cities and picturesque, romantic beach resorts to cultural breaks and world renowned hotels.
The cargo division of Etihad Airways, Etihad Crystal Cargo, offers a comprehensive range of cargo services on all flights of the airline's rapidly expanding network. A growing fleet of regional freighter aircraft operates additional cargo destinations - currently Frankfurt, Amman, Mumbai, Milan, Chennai, Khartoum and New Delhi - and world-wide charter flights. Etihad Crystal Cargo's services are based on three fundamental promises - Ultimate Information Transparency, 21st Century Technology and Total Customer Focus.
Etihad’s focus is on doing things differently – reinventing the way an airline works, with the emphasis very much on creating new standards in hospitality. Etihad refers to passengers as ‘guests’ and has three ‘guest zones’ – Diamond, Pearl and Coral - rather than classes. Each zone provides a premium service, with quality and undivided attention emphasized.
For more information:
Etihad Media Relations, Abu Dhabi, UAE
+971 2 505 8055
About SN Brussels
SN Brussels Airlines is the Belgian full-service airline based in Brussels offering its customers a gateway to Europe, Africa and the States. The company, which employs more than 2.160 people, guarantees more than 285 punctual flights a day to 57 European and 14 African cities, as well as direct daily flight between Brussels and Chicago, Brussels - New York and many US destinations beyond. SN Brussels Airlines’ modern fleet consists of 38 aircraft configured in business and economy class. SN Brussels Airlines has commercial partnerships with world-class companies. In 2004 SN has been acclaimed as “Brussels Tourism Ambassador” and has won the « Skytrax Airline Excellence Award » for its excellent service during the whole travel experience.
