(XIN) UAE national airline to increase flights to Johannesburg from August

[Mike]

ABU DHABI, Jul 30, 2007 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will increase its frequency to Johannesburg from twice a week to daily starting from Aug. 1, local newspaper Gulf News reported on Monday.

The increase of flights linking Abu Dhabi with the commercial capital of South Africa was due to popular demand from business and leisure travelers, in addition to the growing South African community living and working in the Gulf region, the report said.

Some 100,000 South Africans are living in the Gulf region, 20, 000 of whom are in the UAE, the report said.

"Etihad's base in Abu Dhabi provides a natural air-bridge linking the Gulf communities and Etihad's network to South Africa, " the airline's executive vice president Geert Boven was quoted as saying.

"The demand for daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg has grown considerably during the past 12 months, whether it is UAE-based South Africans flying home with Etihad or holidaymakers visiting South Africa," he said.

Etihad launched its first flight to Johannesburg in December 2005.

Established in July 2003, Etihad launched its first flight on Nov. 6, 2003. It currently owns a fleet of 26 aircraft which operates services to 46 global destinations.

[hl7534]

Given the fact that airlines from that region are expanding rapidly (with the exception of GF), it is no surprise that EY is increasing JNB among other destinations as well. JNB is already served by EK multiple times daily with the 777-300ER, and QR also flies to JNB. EY should expand at a steadier rate, though, and should focus more on consistency, such as installing PTVs and lie flat seats on the ex-Volare Airlines A330s.