Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will increase its Abu Dhabi - Dublin service from ten flights per week, to double daily from 15 July 2014.
The frequency boost of 40% will provide 8,988 seats each week between the capital cities of the UAE and Ireland.
Etihad Airways will operate a Boeing 777-300 ER, configured to carry 380 passengers with 40 in Pearl Business Class and 340 in Coral Economy Class, and an Airbus A330-200, configured to carry 262 passengers, with 22 in Pearl Business Class and 240 in Coral Economy Class.
The schedule for the double daily flights will ensure connectivity both ways with 800 weekly connections to 45 Etihad Airways destinations in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, including Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Melbourne, Perth, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “From the moment we started flights to Dublin in July 2007 it has been one of our most successful routes and we’re delighted that from this July, seven years later, Etihad Airways will offer guests a double daily service to and from Abu Dhabi.
“The 40 per cent increase in flight frequency will benefit business and leisure travel not only between Ireland and the UAE, but also right across the Etihad Airways network, especially countries which have a connection with Ireland like Australia, Thailand and Malaysia.”
Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) Chief Executive, Kevin Toland, welcomed the decision. He said: “The partnership between Dublin Airport and Etihad Airways has been hugely successful since the airline launched the Dublin-Abu Dhabi route in 2007. Dublin has long been one of Etihad Airways’ busiest routes and the airline has steadily expanded capacity on the service over the past six years.”