Etihad Announces Flights Between Dallas & Abu Dhabi

Big news from Etihad Airways, which announced yesterday that it will launch new international service from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport three times a week to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, starting on December 3, 2014.  

"The United States is one of Etihad Airways' most important global markets and we are delighted to add Dallas/Fort Worth, a key U.S. destination and hub, to our flight network, bringing the number of American cities we will serve to five by the end of 2014," said James Hogan, Etihad Airways' President and Chief Executive Officer. "The new service will also strengthen the deep commercial and bilateral ties between the United Arab Emirates and the United States."

The flag-carrier for the UAE will operate the Dallas/Fort Worth route with Boeing 777-200LR aircraft with a three-class design.

The addition of Etihad Airways further extends DFW's expansion of air service: The Airport has already added 23 new international services and ten new airline partners in the past three years. Abu Dhabi will become DFW's 58th international destination when the flights begin next year. 

Etihad, meanwhile, has connections from Abu Dhabi to more than 90 destinations around the world, and has been named 'World's Leading Airline' at the World Travel Awards for five consecutive years.

Good to know: The Etihad Airways service is expected to produce an additional $90 million in annual economic impact to the Dallas/Fort Worth region in terms of additional visitors, business ties and investments, according to DFW Airport estimates.

Pictured left to right (all from Etihad Airways): Khaled Al Mehairbi, Senior Vice President Government and Aeropolitical Affairs; Haitham Al Subaihi, Vice President Mid Atlantic; Geert Boven, Senior Vice President Americas; Denise Harvill, Vice President Central Region.