Etihad may fly to BNE from September

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littl_flier

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Just noticed this, interesting to say the least. Looks like China Eastern may be in for the ride to.


Etihad's Brisbane swoop

Steve Creedy, Aviation writer
MATP
387 words
30 June 2007
The Australian
2 - All-round First
35
English
Copyright 2007 News Ltd. All Rights Reserved

IN a move that will set alarm bells ringing at Qantas, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways will expand its Australian services after bringing forward plans to fly to Brisbane.

A stronger than expected response to its new Australian operations prompted the United Arab Emirates carrier to accelerate its plans to expand and begin services to Brisbane from September.

The Australian and UAE governments needed to change their air services agreement in order to bring forward rights originally to begin next year.
Etihad will fly to Brisbane three times a week via Singapore.

The decision by Etihad, which had previously said it would consolidate its Sydney operations before expanding to other destinations, means more competition for Qantas.

Etihad's Australian manager, Cramer Ball, said the airline's Abu Dhabi-Singapore service meant it had additional capacity it could use on the Brisbane route. That, combined with the good response to its Sydney flights and strong representations from Queensland government and airport authorities, prompted it to bring forward its plans.

"We are still having dialogue with the various states, the various bodies, so we have a decision to make probably later this year as to where we utilise the additional capacity that comes on board," he said.

Australia, particularly the Gold Coast, is an increasingly popular tourism destination for Emiratis, with inbound figures increasing seven-fold in the past decade. Trade between Australia and the UAE is also increasing, standing at about $US3billion ($3.5 billion).

The Emirates are Australia's biggest Middle Eastern trade partner, with more than 300 companies and an estimated 15,000 expatriates operating there.

Mr Ball said traffic generated by these factors and travel on the airline through to Europe and the Middle East had meant passenger and freight loads on the airline's Sydney flights were far exceeding expectations. The Sydney flights in June had been full in all classes.

"Without putting a number on it, chief executive James Hogan keeps on saying it's probably been the most successful route launch out of any destination we've started up," Mr Ball said.

New flights to Dublin and Milan, as well as more flights to Paris, would also make through flights to and from Europe more attractive.


China Eastern and Etihad to launch flights to Brisbane
Source:

Two more international airlines will begin flights to Brisbane later this year, Queensland Tourism Minister Margaret Keech said today.

New services by China Eastern and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad are expected to boost Queensland's tourism industry with better access to the emerging Chinese and Middle Eastern markets.

"Aviation access is vital to ensure the continued growth of international tourism in Queensland, and China and the Middle East are among our most potentially lucrative markets," Mrs Keech said.

Etihad will operate three flights a week from Abu Dhabi to Brisbane via Singapore, bringing in up to 800 tourists a week from September.

China Eastern will offer two flights per week from Shanghai to Brisbane, or nearly 600 inbound seats each week, for four months from November. But it is hoped the airline will make a longer-term commitment.

"Additional flights to our state from significant new players in the airline industry such as Etihad and China Eastern are an excellent endorsement of Queensland's status on the world stage as a premier holiday and business destination," Mrs Keech said.
AAP
 
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I just tried to make a dummy booking on Zuji and Bestflights and can't see the fare. The Etihad website doesn't have BNE as a destination either. :confused:

It must be a TA only fare at the moment until it comes online. I'm unsure of Etihad taxes but it could make for a reasonable (but not great) fare.
 
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