Talking about changes -
Just saw the following...
Etihad to fly to Toronto this October
28/07/2005
Abu Dhabi: After spreading its wings over the Middle East, Asia and Europe, Etihad Airways now plans to fly to its first destination in North America. Starting October 2005, the National Airline of the UAE will commence operations to Toronto via Brussels with three direct flights every week.
“We are looking forward to our first trans-Atlantic flight to North America within just two years of operations. Our flight to Canada will be a launch pad for our services to the US in the summer of 2006,” says Ian Ferguson Brown, Etihad’s Head of Communications. “This new operation reflects our commitment to place guest needs at the core of our strategic development, especially with regard to destination selection. Currently, there are no direct flights from the UAE to Canada, so this new route will provide our guests with greater flexibility when travelling to Europe and North America.”
The new route to Toronto via Brussels is expected to significantly enhance the link between the UAE, Europe and Canada, providing even more opportunities for business and tourism. Bilateral trade between Canada and the UAE is expected to double this year. The Canadian Business Council in Abu Dhabi was launched in March 2005, paving the way for even more Canadian companies to continue investing and expanding operations in the UAE, especially in the energy, environment, infrastructure and health sectors.
The launch of this new destination supports one of Etihad’s key goals of offering the people of Abu Dhabi and the UAE access to as many of the world’s capitals as possible and ensuring Abu Dhabi’s role as a hub between East and West, North and South. Etihad expects to add New York as a destination in 2006.
To the US in 2006??? How will they fare with the FAA red tape???
Cheers!