08 August 2010
Abu Dhabi-headquartered Etihad Airways will introduce its first 'all economy' class aircraft into its fleet in October 2010, the airline said in a statement on its website. The all-economy service will operate to popular short-haul destinations with low demand for premium traffic, it said, adding that, initially, these will be Alexandria, Calicut, Colombo, Damascus, Doha and Thiruvananthapuram. "It is the right time to challenge the way we serve our various markets and segments," the airline's CEO James Hogan said. Etihad, one of the UAE's national airlines, said two Airbus A320s will be configured to carry 162 economy class passengers, an increase of 42 from the current economy capacity. "Our all economy aircraft will allow us to offer a more competitive product in key point-to-point markets in Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and the Indian Subcontinent, while maintaining the high standards of service we have become known for," Hogan said.
Plans are in place to expand the all economy fleet to 10 A320 aircraft which will enable the airline to launch new short haul destinations which have low demand for premium travel and also to existing Etihad destinations. In an apparent bid to clarify that the airline wasn't launching a budget carrier yet, the statement said that "customers travelling on the new 'all economy' aircraft will receive the same world class service and product that is featured on our current narrow body fleet, such as seat back in-flight entertainment screens and hot and cold meals and beverages."
Abu Dhabi-headquartered Etihad Airways will introduce its first 'all economy' class aircraft into its fleet in October 2010, the airline said in a statement on its website. The all-economy service will operate to popular short-haul destinations with low demand for premium traffic, it said, adding that, initially, these will be Alexandria, Calicut, Colombo, Damascus, Doha and Thiruvananthapuram. "It is the right time to challenge the way we serve our various markets and segments," the airline's CEO James Hogan said. Etihad, one of the UAE's national airlines, said two Airbus A320s will be configured to carry 162 economy class passengers, an increase of 42 from the current economy capacity. "Our all economy aircraft will allow us to offer a more competitive product in key point-to-point markets in Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and the Indian Subcontinent, while maintaining the high standards of service we have become known for," Hogan said.
Plans are in place to expand the all economy fleet to 10 A320 aircraft which will enable the airline to launch new short haul destinations which have low demand for premium travel and also to existing Etihad destinations. In an apparent bid to clarify that the airline wasn't launching a budget carrier yet, the statement said that "customers travelling on the new 'all economy' aircraft will receive the same world class service and product that is featured on our current narrow body fleet, such as seat back in-flight entertainment screens and hot and cold meals and beverages."
© Emirates Business 24/7 2010
