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www.breakingtravelnews.com World Travel Awards 2006
8th March 2006
40 YEARS OF ITB BERLIN
Nominations are announced See Special Supplement Plus winners list from the 2005 awards see page 9
The 2006 FIFA World Cup see page 4
see page 5
Abu Dhabi growth fuels major development for Etihad Abu Dhabi’s national carrier, Etihad Airways, has begun 2006 with the same energy and dynamism that has characterised its approach to airline economics since it was first introduced in 2003. In February alone the company announced six new routes and a code-share with British carrier, bmi. eanwhile The Abu Dhabi Tourism
visitors to Abu Dhabi and our two countries
travellers, is promoting various destinations
passengers a high level of style and hospitality,
Authority has shadowed the carrier’s
enjoy the closest of bilateral links and
across its network. It is not clear whether the
providing innovative seating, high-speed
expansion with the recent opening of
friendship.”
airline will launch a new hotel management
wireless internet access, and fine cuisine in
guests with distinct areas for conducting
division.
both the Coral and Pearl Zones.
business, where guests can enjoy a range of
M
its first office in London, No. 1 Knightsbridge,
Reflecting on the significance of Etihad in this
of Diamond and Pearl Zone guests. The spacious lounge accommodates 60
and a second overseas office is planned for
tourism boom, Sheikh Bin Tahnoon
Frankfurt, Germany, in April.
commented: “Etihad is a very ambitious
Guests across the world -- they are also
first airline in the world to offer live television
in quiet areas. There’s also a separate section
company and we hope they will continue to
developing their services closer to home. A
and Internet access at every seat delivered
for ladies. For business travellers wishing to
three new destinations in Pakistan, a new
help to grow the tourism sector. The airline is
new service to Muscat begins towards the end
through its in-flight entertainment system.
catch up on some work, the lounge has laptop
service to Manila, the capital of the Philippines
doing great business. It is growing rapidly,
of March, becoming Etihad’s 26th destination.
The Connexion by Boeing service will initially
and a daily service between Abu Dhabi and
making its mark in the industry and we are
“Regional air travel is as much a priority as
be available on routes between the Gulf region,
fax and telephone facilities. There is also a gym
Manchester, the company’s third UK
confident that traffic will continue to increase
our growing international destinations, and
Europe and North America. Once installations
and shower facilities.
destination.
towards the critical mass we need for us as a
demand for Muscat as a transit and regional
are completed, guests will have additional
tourism destination.”
destination for both business and recreational
choices in how they want to spend their time
only partway through, since it has an additional $8 billion of new aircraft on order.
Routes introduced by Etihad this year include
The code-share agreement with British airline
Alongside Etihad’s stated aim -- to connect
In mid-2006, Etihad Airways will become the
audio and video entertainment options or relax
connections, high-speed Internet access and
Etihad’s commitment to expected growth is
bmi, will offer travellers in Europe, especially in
Commenting on the airline’s success at the
breaks will be better served with the launch of
in-flight, including access to the worldwide
the UK and Ireland, a new service to Abu Dhabi
World Travel Awards, where Etihad picked up
our new route,” says Raymond Korban,
web, e-mail; corporate intranets, virtual private
from nine regional airports. Travellers from
World’s Leading New Airline for the second
Etihad’s manager for the United Arab Emirates
networks, live TV and the ability to stay in
commitment has made a substantial impact on
Aberdeen, Amsterdam, Belfast, Dublin,
year in a row, Sheikh Bin Tahnoon commented:
(UAE) and Oman.
touch with friends, family and the office.
the world’s airline industry,” explains Robert
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Durham Tees
“I would like to congratulate Etihad Airways for
Valley and Manchester will be able to make one
this achievement. They have set high standards
the UAE is by far the largest trading partner
appeal to business travellers, a lucrative market
reservation taking them from their local hub to
from the beginning and now they are seeing the
with Oman for both imports and exports.
that is central to Etihad’s offering and supports
continues this drive towards providing guests
Abu Dhabi via Heathrow.
rewards.”
As the tourism industry takes on a new
As Abu Dhabi continues to reshape its
According to the GCC Secretariat General,
The announcement of these new routes
It is thought that this service will mainly
“In just over two years Etihad Airways’
Strodel, Etihad’s CEO at the recent launch. “The arrival of Etihad’s first Boeing 777
the airline’s wider ambition of developing Abu
with the most advanced entertainment and
comes soon after Etihad unveiled its Boeing
Dhabi as a significant commercial hub in the
business facilities in the air.”
Middle East.
Abu Dhabi has opened its first overseas
significance for the destination, the chairman of
tourism strategy, Etihad is planning to invest in
777–300ER aircraft, the first of 29 aircraft, both
the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), Sheikh
hotel projects to boost leisure and business
Boeing and Airbus that are scheduled to join its
Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, commented: “Britain
travel to Abu Dhabi. The airline, which already
fleet before the spring of 2008.
has long been the largest source of European
has a holiday division to cater to the leisure
The new Boeing 777 allows Etihad to offer
In another recent development, Etihad’s
tourism office in a move aimed at promoting
Premium Lounge has opened on the first floor
the largest of the United Arab Emirates in
of Abu Dhabi International Airport, for the use
Europe and beyond.
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