09 Oct 2013 08:30
Etihad Airways is set to increase the frequency of its Jakarta – Abu Dhabi flights from seven per week to double daily.
The
addition of the new flight on October 27, 2013 will double the number of Boeing
777-300ER services operated by Etihad Airways between Jakarta and Abu Dhabi and
will bring to 20 the number of weekly flights offered in partnership with
Garuda Indonesia.
Etihad
Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer James Hogan said the extra daily
service would add 5,768 extra seats per week to the Jakarta – Abu Dhabi route.
“The
addition of a second daily flight puts Etihad Airways in a strong position in
the Indonesian market because travellers will have a greater choice of
departure times and will enjoy more frequent connections in Abu Dhabi to key
destinations across our global network.
“The
extra capacity also presents opportunities to capitalise on Indonesia’s rapidly
growing aviation market and to leverage the growing trade between Indonesia and
the United Arab Emirates.
“Last year,
total bilateral trade between Indonesia and the UAE was valued at $3.3 billion,
an increase of 32.32 per cent on 2011 – so we see significant opportunities to boost our share of the
business travel market and to grow our successful freight division, Etihad
Cargo.
“We thank
the Director General of Civil Aviation, Indonesia for granting Etihad Airways
approval for a second daily flight and we are confident that the extra capacity
will deliver mutual benefits for the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.”
Mr Hogan
noted that the addition of a second daily flight was consistent with Etihad
Airways’ expansion in Indonesia.
“We
entered the Indonesian market in March 2006 with a modest four flights a week
between Jakarta and Abu Dhabi and since then, we have more than tripled our
frequency and have developed a strong partnership with Indonesia’s flag
carrier.
“Our
partnership with Garuda Indonesia adds six extra flights per week to the Abu
Dhabi–Jakarta sector and enables us to offer daily flights between Jakarta and
Perth, Australia and connections to five Indonesian cities.”
President and CEO of
Garuda Indonesia, Mr Emirsyah Satar, welcomed the increase in Etihad Airways’
services to Jakarta.
“The codeshare
agreement with Etihad has been providing Garuda’s passengers with seamless
connectivity and wider choice, and it will strengthen Garuda Indonesia’s domestic
market and in Australia as well,” Mr Satar said.
Etihad
Airways’ flights between Jakarta and Abu Dhabi are operated by a two-class
Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, with 28 seats in Pearl Business Class and 384 seats
in Coral Economy Class.