Etihad Airways has won Best First Class and Best Long Haul Airline Middle East and Africa categories in the AirlineRatings.com 2015 Airline Excellence Awards.
It was also ranked second in the world’s top 10 after Air New Zealand and ahead of Cathay Pacific Airways, Qantas Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, EVA Air, Lufthansa, All Nippon Airways and British Airways. Etihad Airways got onto the Top 10 list because it has a seven star safety rating by AirlineRatings.com as well as demonstrated leadership in passenger comfort innovation. This rating has been endorsed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “The wins cap off another successful year – not just in terms of the number of awards and accolades we have received, but also for the way in which our ground breaking innovation in product and service has made headlines on all six continents and elevated the Etihad Airways brand into the global consciousness.
“In recognising the top priority we place on safety and sustainable financial performance, these awards also validate our game-changing business strategy.”
Etihad Airways in November
In November, Etihad Airways made a number of announcements including codeshare agreements and expansions with SAS and Alitalia, its renewal of the F1 title sponsorship, its receipt of the CAPA Airline of the Year Award, its inaugural flight to San Francisco and other news.
Etihad Airways and SAS Codeshare
Etihad Airways recently announced codeshare plans with SAS offering enhanced options for air travellers flying between Scandinavia and the UAE as well as a frequent flyer agreement to benefit both airlines’ programmes and their members. SAS is Etihad Airways’ 47th airline partnership globally and its 22nd in Europe. Etihad Airways is SAS’s 23rd codeshare partner and the third with a strong presence in the Middle East.
SAS will place its SK code on Etihad Airways flights between Abu Dhabi and Brussels, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Rome, Milan, Zurich, Geneva and London Heathrow. Etihad Airways will place its EY code on SAS flights from these European destinations except Brussels, onto SAS hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. The EY code will also be placed on flights beyond Copenhagen to Billund and Ålesund; beyond Oslo to Ålesund, Kristiansand, Trondheim and Stavanger; and beyond Stockholm to Umeå, Sundsvall and Östersund.
Tickets for the codeshare start 8 December 2014 for travel from 19 January 2015.
Etihad Airways and Alitalia Codeshare
Etihad Airways and Alitalia will offer a combined 35 flights per week between Italy and Abu Dhabi. Alitalia will triple service frequency between Italy and Abu Dhabi in March 2015 with new daily services from Milan and Venice and Etihad Airways codesharing on both routes. The Venice – Abu Dhabi Alitalia flight will launch 29 March 2015 using an Airbus A330-200 aircraft with 20 Business Class seats, 17 Economy Plus Class seats and 213 Economy Class seats. The Milan – Abu Dhabi will also launch 29 March 2015 and will be operated using a Boeing 777 aircraft with 30 seats in Business Class, 24 seats in Economy Plus Class and 239 seats in Economy Class.
In the next stage of codeshare expansion, 15 of Alitalia’s domestic routes from Rome Fiumicino Airport will be added from next year.
The codeshare agreement was expanded a week after Etihad Airways and Alitalia received merger clearance from the European Commission for a proposed strategic partnership under which Etihad Airways will acquire a 49% stake in the Italian national carrier.
Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Title Sponsorship Extended
Etihad Airways has extended its title sponsorship in the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix becoming one of the longest title sponsors in F1 history. It has been the Title Sponsor since 2009. The exposure provided by the title sponsorship underpins the plans of Etihad Airways and its Abu Dhabi home base, whose strategy is to develop the UAE’s capital into one of the world’s leading economies, tourist destinations and air transport hubs.
Etihad Airways Named CAPA Airline of the Year
Etihad Airways has been named CAPA Airline of the Year at the CAPA Aviation Awards for Excellence 2014 held in Antwerp, Belgium. This award is for strategic leadership in the aviation industry and is given to the carrier which has the greatest impact on the development of the global airline industry, as a strategic leader and by setting a benchmark for others to follow.
Inaugural Flight to San Francisco Launched
EY183 touched down at San Francisco International Airport on the night of 18 November 2014. The nonstop daily service between Abu Dhabi and San Francisco is the airline’s fifth US destination. The launch is another example of successful partnership between Etihad Airways and Jet Airways with the route operated using a Jet Airways Boeing 777-300ER aircraft through a lease agreement. A combination of Etihad Airways and Jet Airways cabin crew will serving customers on board.
EY 183 departs Abu Dhabi at 2.15am and arrives in San Francisco at 6.30am. EY 182 departs San Francisco at 8.30am and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 12.40pm.
