The Hindu Business Line : Etihad Airways begins India operations

Mr Kevin Steele, Head of World Sales, Etihad Airways, and Mr Charles Phelps-Penry, Area Manager (South-East Asia), with air-hostesses at a press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday. - Paul Noronha

Mumbai , Sept 29

ETIHAD Airways, the national airline of UAE, has launched its India operations with a daily services from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai. The first scheduled flight between Abu Dahbi and Mumbai took off on September 26. The airline plans to start a thrice-a-week flight to Delhi from December, Mr Charles Phelps-Penry, Area Manager (South-East Asia), has said.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, he said the airline plans to recruit about 200 Indian cabin crew in phases in the next couple of years. To begin with, the Abu Dhabi-based airline will be recruiting 20 to 30 Indian crew shortly.

The new airline, which started operations in November last year, has introduced a daily Airbus A330 flight to Mumbai, its 11th destination, and plans to start services to south Indian destinations by next year.

Etihad will be launching services to Delhi from December 1 and subject to availability of capacity would operate additional flights during the winter under the open sky policy, said Mr Kevin Steele, Head of World Sales.

Describing India as a major market, Mr Steele said it was growing at 25 per cent per annum and was the fastest-growing market globally.

Etihad, which operates with six leased planes, has placed an order for 24 Airbus and five Boeing 777-300s (extended range) worth $7 billion for deliveries in the next two years. It proposes to acquire a fleet of 50 planes by 2010 to fly to 60 destinations, Mr Steele said.

"Adding India to our radar within just 10 months of our worldwide launch underlines our belief that this is a major market, and the fastest growing market globally" said Mr Phelps-Penry.