Etihad Airways starts daily Perth flights

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has commenced daily, nonstop services between Perth and Abu Dhabi.
The inaugural flight — EY486 — touched down at Perth International Airport where it was greeted by a water cannon salute and a traditional ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony.
Perth, the capital of Western Australia, is Etihad Airways’ fourth Australian gateway alongside Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The new daily flights bring to 351 the total number of weekly services the airline offers between Australia and Abu Dhabi.
The new Perth flights offer an attractive and compelling proposition for travelers to and from the GCC countries, Middle East, Africa, Europe and the United States with the convenience of one stop in Abu Dhabi. Cairo, Dublin, London, Manchester, Doha, Jeddah, Beirut and New York will now be linked with the Western Australian capital.
Etihad Airways’ President and CEO James Hogan said Perth was a strategically important addition to Etihad Airways’ Australian and global network.
“The inaugural flight creates the first commercial air link between Perth and Abu Dhabi and marks the beginning of an exciting new era of partnership between the state of Western Australia and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.”
Hogan pointed to data showing Western Australia as the largest contributor to trade between the UAE and Australia, accounting for 57 percent of the Australian $ 6.4 billion total in 2013.
“With two-way trade between the UAE and Western Australia growing at an annual rate of between 25 to 30 percent in recent years, we are forecasting strong demand for our cargo business.”
Brad Geatches, CEO of Perth Airport, said: “We are very excited to welcome Etihad Airways to Perth today. We have been working with the airline for some time now and it is pleasing to celebrate the arrival of the inaugural flight.”