MUMBAI: For Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad Airways , the top three Indian cities that witnessed the fastest growth and recovery in passenger traffic, post pandemic were Mumbai, New Delhi and Kochi , in that order.
“We’re experiencing double digit growth in both Mumbai and Delhi where passenger traffic has grown by 20% when compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019. Other gateway cities like Chennai and Kochi too have seen a significant increase in passenger traffic,” said Javier Alija, vice president, sales and distribution, Etihad Airways.
Alija was in Mumbai on Thursday as the airline celebrated the completion of 20 years of flying to India. The Abu Dhabi based airline had launched flights to Mumbai on Sept 26, 2004, followed by flights to New Delhi in December. Since its launch, the airline has flown more than 172,000 flights and connected more than 26 million passengers between India and the UAE.
Currently, Etihad operates 176 flights per week to 11 destinations across India, which is 25 flights daily from India to Abu Dhabi. The airline has also expanded seat capacity between Abu Dhabi and India this year with additional flight frequencies to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata. It now operates more than 50 extra flights per week to India, compared to last summer, providing more flexibility with onward connections,” the airline said.
“Globally, Etihad Airways’ average load factor from January to August 2024 has been 86%, with a peak of 89% load factor reported in August. We are proud to report that India is operating above the network average. These figures highlight Etihad’s strong recovery in the Indian market and overall positive performance globally,” Alija said. Etihad launched its 20-year celebrations with the Airbus A380 commencing operations between Mumbai and Abu Dhabi three times per week until the end of the year.
While most passengers on its flights from south India fly point to point with Abu Dhabi as their final destination, from cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, about 60-70 % are transit passengers people who take connecting flights from Abu Dhabi, largely to cities in Europe, North America and GCC, that is.
The airline said it is expanding its global network to enhance connectivity, offer onward flights from Abu Dhabi on convenient connections to destinations in Europe and the US. In its summer 2024 schedule, the airline will be offering year-round double-daily flights between Abu Dhabi and major cities such as Paris, Milan, Rome, Manchester, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Barcelona, and Madrid.
“The new daily European flights are conveniently timed for morning and evening departures and arrivals, offering travellers the flexibility to choose the schedule that suits them,” the airline said.
Etihad operates a fleet of narrow-body aircraft from the A320 and A320 neo family apart from wide-bodies such as the A350-1000, A380, Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Its operating fleet grew to 95 aircraft, up from 79 in Sept last year.
“We’re experiencing double digit growth in both Mumbai and Delhi where passenger traffic has grown by 20% when compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019. Other gateway cities like Chennai and Kochi too have seen a significant increase in passenger traffic,” said Javier Alija, vice president, sales and distribution, Etihad Airways.
Alija was in Mumbai on Thursday as the airline celebrated the completion of 20 years of flying to India. The Abu Dhabi based airline had launched flights to Mumbai on Sept 26, 2004, followed by flights to New Delhi in December. Since its launch, the airline has flown more than 172,000 flights and connected more than 26 million passengers between India and the UAE.
Currently, Etihad operates 176 flights per week to 11 destinations across India, which is 25 flights daily from India to Abu Dhabi. The airline has also expanded seat capacity between Abu Dhabi and India this year with additional flight frequencies to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata. It now operates more than 50 extra flights per week to India, compared to last summer, providing more flexibility with onward connections,” the airline said.
“Globally, Etihad Airways’ average load factor from January to August 2024 has been 86%, with a peak of 89% load factor reported in August. We are proud to report that India is operating above the network average. These figures highlight Etihad’s strong recovery in the Indian market and overall positive performance globally,” Alija said. Etihad launched its 20-year celebrations with the Airbus A380 commencing operations between Mumbai and Abu Dhabi three times per week until the end of the year.
While most passengers on its flights from south India fly point to point with Abu Dhabi as their final destination, from cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, about 60-70 % are transit passengers people who take connecting flights from Abu Dhabi, largely to cities in Europe, North America and GCC, that is.
The airline said it is expanding its global network to enhance connectivity, offer onward flights from Abu Dhabi on convenient connections to destinations in Europe and the US. In its summer 2024 schedule, the airline will be offering year-round double-daily flights between Abu Dhabi and major cities such as Paris, Milan, Rome, Manchester, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Barcelona, and Madrid.
“The new daily European flights are conveniently timed for morning and evening departures and arrivals, offering travellers the flexibility to choose the schedule that suits them,” the airline said.
Etihad operates a fleet of narrow-body aircraft from the A320 and A320 neo family apart from wide-bodies such as the A350-1000, A380, Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Its operating fleet grew to 95 aircraft, up from 79 in Sept last year.
