Etihad boosts Heathrow-Abu Dhabi flights

Etihad Airways has announced plans to expand its network of flights between Heathrow Airport and its base in Abu Dhabi.

The carrier will add a third daily service to its programme of flights from Heathrow to Abu Dhabi in October.

This change will bring Etihad's total number of weekly services to Heathrow from 17 to 21 and will complement its daily flights between Manchester and Abu Dhabi.

Geert Boven, the airline's executive vice-president of sales and services, said: "It is great news that Etihad will shortly operate a third daily flight between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow, the world's busiest international airport.

"By adding these new flights to our growing route network we are able to offer a simpler, more convenient travel experience for the flying public."

The past 12 months has brought an increase in demand for Etihad's flights from the UK to the United Arab Emirates, with 306,000 passengers using the Heathrow service and 146,000 people travelling on the Manchester Airport route.

London Heathrow is one of Etihad's longest-serving airports – it began hosting flights in March 2004, only five months after the airline set up base in Abu Dhabi.

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