Etihad link to boost region

Airline promotes connecting flights

CAIRNS is being promoted by luxury airline Etihad, which has started daily direct services between Brisbane and Abu Dhabi.

The airline is emphasising its codeshare agreement with Virgin Australia, which will connect Cairns passengers with the departing 9.35pm service at Brisbane and the return flights at 5.50pm each day.

The national airline of the United Arab Emirates will use a new state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft with 265 seats – eight in first class, 28 in business class and 199 in economy class – on the route for the first time, replacing the daily one-stop services via Singapore with a two-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

An airline spokeswoman said the flights provided travel to and from Cairns as they “conveniently connect with codeshare partner Virgin Australia’s flights between Brisbane and Cairns”.

Airline president James Hogan said the flights were a reflection of their “enduring commitment to the Queensland travel market and the strong performance of the Brisbane route”.

“By retiming our Brisbane-Abu Dhabi flights with evening departures in both directions and removing the stop in Singapore, we can now offer guests the convenience of shorter travel times and twoway connectivity to more than 30 destinations in the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Middle East, Africa and Europe,” he said.

“Our non-stop flights also offer improved connectivity from regional Queensland and guests can now connect seamlessly with Etihad Airways’ evening Brisbane services by flying with partner airline Virgin Australia from 13 towns and cities across the state.

“It’s now easier than ever for overseas travellers to explore more of Queensland’s abundant visitor attractions and its diverse landscapes.”

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the move signalled “a strong vote of confidence in Queensland tourism”.

“The Middle East is still an emerging market with around 20,000 visitors to Queensland each year, however this number is expected to grow with the new direct route from Abu Dhabi,” she said.

The airline has strong ties with the Queensland Government. Its shareholder, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, donated $30 million to Queensland to build five category-five cyclone shelters for use as multipurpose centres, including in Cairns, Innisfail and Weipa.

It’s now easier than ever for overseas travellers to explore more of Queensland’s abundant visitor attractions and its diverse landscapes AIRLINE PRESIDENT JAMES HOGAN