Etihad Airways will start flights to Phuket in Thailand from both London and Manchester later this year via its Abu Dhabi home base. The new route will launch on 26 October using two-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft, with 22 business seats and 240 economy seats.
Phuket will become the second destination in Thailand to be served by Etihad Airways, and the seventh in South East Asia, alongside Bangkok, Singapore, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta.
James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “We have a very successful track record in Thailand. The capital city, Bangkok, has ranked as our most popular route for the past four years, with nearly three quarters of a million passengers flown in 2013 alone. Expanding our reach in the country with a daily service to Phuket is therefore natural progression.
Phuket is the ninth route to be announced by Etihad Airways in 2014. Services commenced to Medina on 1 February from Abu Dhabi and will be followed by Jaipur (1 April), Los Angeles (1 June), Zurich (1 June), Yerevan (2 July), Rome (15 July), Perth (15 July), Phuket (26 October) and Dallas (3 December).