Etihad started service to North America in 2006 with flights to New York JFK. It also operates to Chicago O’Hare and Toronto. The Abu Dhabi-Washington Dulles flights are being operated with an Airbus A340-500, configured with 240 seats in a three-class layout.
Etihad president and CEO James Hogan, in Washington DC for the route launch, told reporters the Abu Dhabi-based carrier is eyeing further destinations in the Americas. “Our expansion continues at a fast rate,” he said. “We enter South America in June with service to Sao Paulo. We certainly have it on the radar to announce a new US destination next year.” Etihad now serves 86 destinations worldwide.
Hogan also expressed confidence in the grounded Boeing 787 and said Etihad continues to plan to receive its first 787-9 in the 2014 fourth quarter. With 41 787-9s on order, Etihad is the largest customer for the -9 variant.
“The 787 is a great product and the right aircraft for us,” Hogan said. “I’ve met with Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Ray Conner in the last four weeks and I’m satisfied with the resolution of the lithium ion battery issue … We’ve been very involved behind the scenes with Boeing.”
Hogan said Etihad is “absolutely” confident in the Dreamliner. “I’ve been around a long time and I’ve never seen an aircraft enter service without some issues,” he commented. “With any new product, you expect some issues.”
Regarding the carrier’s continuing expansion, Hogan stressed that Etihad will only launch new service if it makes financial sense. “We wouldn’t enter the Washington market unless there was a business case,” he said. “There was no pressure from the owner the United Arab Emirates, and there never has been, to operate a flight as a public utility.”
(Aaron Karp - ATW News)
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