Etihad to Toronto?

[Vne98]

Just heard an ad on the radio while driving today that Etihad plans to commence flights into Toronto!

Any pilots confirm this? What will the frequency be?

[Togalk]

Yes, it is true. Three or four times a week. Abu Dhabi- Brussels-Toronto.

[salamalikum2]

....starting the 31 of october i think.

[IShotTheSherif]

Etihad begin operations to Toronto beginning 31 October 2005. It will be a one-stop, routing via Brussels (Belgium). This is for strategic reasons.

I am not sure what equipment will be used for this route, but I guess it will be either B767 or A332 or A343 :}... hehe

Oh, and it will be 3 weekly flights

[boiler]

This is for strategic reasons.

I am not sure it is strategic as you may put it. The simple fact of the matter is they have no aircraft that can go direct (non-stop) from AUH. According to their website, it will be an A330 service.

[fullforward]

Their brand new 777 300ER are arriving by late Dec or early Jan and can be scheduled for this route and new ones.

[worst-class]

Anyone know why EK missed out on this one?

[miss petal]

Apparently EK was greedy and wanted to get daily flights to Toronto...

[Vne98]

Someone mentioned that since Etihad is the national carrier for the UAE they had first crack at Toronto, but this is based on rumors maybe someone here and prove otherwise

cheers

[dooner]

told 3 years ago in our "welcome to the company" speech that we already had at that time, been granted 4 days a week, however no airplanes for direct service, hence the ticket office on Younge Street in prep for the future.

Told last year at my "congrats on your upgrade..." speech, Canadian Gubbies wanted us to "expedite our plans to Canada" Company took this to mean they really wanted us to come. However 4 months earlier we already knew that EY were also going to be given the rights (July of last year).

Typical Canadian Gubbies they will always say "expedite" meaning use it or lose it, not "we really want you, so go ahead demand daily service"

The reality of it is, is that the Gubbies won't give daily service right off the bat, within the year (or when aircraft deliveries allow) watch for EY to go daily to T.O. like all the other Carriers did when they first started to Canada.

Oh well, who really knows, or for that matter truly cares

Take care

Dooner:ok:

[330 Man]

Emirates was offered the route to operate 4 days a week. This was brought up at the pilots meeting in September. We were told at the meeting that we will loose money operating 4 days a week unless we were to get a good code share agreement with Air Canada, which is not happening. Emirates never intentionaly looses money. With no date for going to 7 days a week EK passed.

Vne98, that rumor is not true. EK was offered the route first and passed. Etihad is not concerned with making money at this point so they will operate any route possible to get the jump on ANY competitor! Qatar wants to fly to JFK, and I read an article this summer quoting AAB stating that they know they will loose millions of dollars on the route but they will do it anyway.

That is the way of the middle east.

Regards,

330 man