Etihad extends its reach to Hong Kong

Etihad Airways added Hong Kong to its global network through a new codeshare with equity alliance partner, Air Seychelles.
The inaugural Abu Dhabi to Hong Kong flight, operated by Air Seychelles’ brightly colored Airbus A330-200 aircraft, marked the commencement of three weekly services between the two points.
The Abu Dhabi to Hong Kong sector is the second leg of Air Seychelles’ new service from the island nation to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s fourth destination in Greater China — joining Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai.
It is a strategically important new gateway for business and leisure travel between Asia and the UAE, GCC, Africa and island nations in the Indian Ocean.
Travellers from Hong Kong can now connect seamlessly in Abu Dhabi to 12 destinations in Europe, three destinations in Africa, six in the GCC, and three destinations in the Middle East.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ president and CEO, said the new codeshare with Air Seychelles demonstrated the opportunities for revenue growth and network expansion available to each airline through increasing co-operation and resource sharing.
“The codeshare with Air Seychelles allows Etihad Airways to commence services to Hong Kong and extend its reach into Greater China sooner than would have been possible independently," said the CEO.
“It gives Etihad Airways immediate and direct access to rich, new sources of passenger and cargo revenue in Hong Kong and major outbound travel markets in southern China such as Guangzhou and Shenzen," Hogan said,
Commenting on the new route from Abu Dhabi International Airport, Ali Majed Al Mansoori, chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), said: “The new three weekly services represent the strong position Abu Dhabi is holding as a major air transport hub for the region."
Etihad Cargo currently operates four weekly freighter flights from its hub in Abu Dhabi International Airport to Hong Kong.