Abu Dhabi to Shanghai

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has commenced scheduled flights between its hub in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai (China).

The airline will initially operate five weekly Airbus A330-300 services to Shanghai’s main international airport – Pudong (PVG) – with commitments to a daily schedule from 15 April.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, James Hogan, said that the new route had special significance as the first non-stop commercial passenger flight between Abu Dhabi and Shanghai.

“The new Shanghai route adds much more than just another destination to the Etihad Airways global network.

It brings the capital of the UAE and the commercial and financial centre of mainland China closer together and creates new opportunities for government, trade, tourism and cultural exchange.”

Flight time is around eight hours.  The airline will compete with Emirates, whose home base is at Dubai, just 70 miles, or less than two hours, along the coastal highway.  Emirates is established and is daily with an Airbus A380 on the route.

Mr Hogan also noted that the Abu Dhabi – Shanghai route was the only one in Etihad’s China network to offer a three-class aircraft with First, Business and Economy cabins. www.etihad.com

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