Friday, September 20, 2024 Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is celebrating 20 years of service to India this month. The airline launched flights to Mumbai on September 26, 2004 , followed by services to New Delhi on December 1, 2004 . Since then, Etihad has significantly expanded its network, now flying to 11 gateways in India, including recent additions of Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, and Jaipur .
In 2023, Etihad increased its seat capacity between Abu Dhabi and India, adding more flight frequencies to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Kolkata . The airline now operates over 50 extra flights per week to India compared to last summer, providing more convenient departure times and greater flexibility for onward connections. During the milestone celebration, Antonoaldo Neves , Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, stated, “India is a strategically important market for Etihad, and we’re extremely proud to be celebrating 20 years of flying to this incredible country.
” He noted that when Etihad launched its first flight to Mumbai, it was the airline’s 8th global destination . Since then, Etihad has expanded to 80 destinations , with plans to reach 125 by 2030 . To commemorate the anniversary, Etihad has introduced the Airbus A380 on the Mumbai-Abu Dhabi route, operating three times per week until the end of the year, allowing Indian travelers to experience the luxury of this iconic aircraft.
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Etihad is offering discount.