Etihad considers launch of Abu Dhabi-Hong Kong flights
UAE airline hopes to start a service between HK and the Middle East within three years
Etihad Airways, the flagship airline of Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is mulling plans to launch its own passenger flights between Hong Kong and the Emirates, a senior executive has confirmed.
"We hope in the medium term to bring our own tail into the Hong Kong market," said Peter Baumgartner, the airline's chief commercial officer. An Etihad spokesman said the "medium term" was considered to be in the next three years.
The confirmation comes after Air Seychelles launched flights between Hong Kong and Mahé via Abu Dhabi on March 24. Air Seychelles is 40 per cent owned by Etihad, which also has a codeshare agreement with Air Seychelles that allows the carriers to sell seats on each other's aircraft.
Sources indicated that Etihad's equity interest and codeshare with Air Seychelles provides the UAE airline with revenue from the Hong Kong market even though it does not operate passenger services to Hong Kong from Abu Dhabi.
A Transport and Housing Bureau spokeswoman confirmed that Etihad is among the designated carriers that have traffic rights between Hong Kong and the UAE. She said the designated airlines can operate unlimited passenger and freighter flights between Hong Kong and the UAE while other foreign carriers may also fly to the UAE from Hong Kong by exercising fifth freedom traffic rights.
At present, Etihad operates cargo flights between Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong.
