Etihad Records High Growth on India Passengers Traffic

Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), today announced an increase of 63 passenger traffic throughout the year with partner Jet Airways to and from India to reinforce the strength of the equity partnership and commitment of the airline to one of world's largest travel markets.

Overall, the airline carried a record 3.3 million passengers between hub Abu Dhabi Etihad Airways and India in 2015, representing a sharp increase in the 2 million flown during the preceding 12 months.Etihad Airways became the first foreign airline to invest in a vehicle of India under the rules of foreign direct investment in India today, when it invested $ 750 million in Jet Airways for 24 percent equity participation in 2013. Etihad Airways currently operates 175 weekly flights and 11 gateway cities in India. The combined networks of Etihad Airways and Jet Airways offer over 250 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and 15 cities in India.

Together, the two carriers are the market leader in terms of travel between India and the UAE. In terms of the international market generally fly between them about 20 percent of all travelers worldwide to and from India account for a large part of the burgeoning air transport industry of the country.

In addition, Etihad Airways Cargo operates 14 weekly cargo planes to four cities in India and flies about 120,000 tons of cargo each year within and outside the country - which account for about nine percent of the total international market. The figures underscore the importance Etihad Airways places for the Indian market - one of the largest sources of the airline business - its close partnership with Jet Airways, and reaffirm the strong ties between the UAE and India.

It is the growing bilateral relationship enjoyed between the two countries was the focus of discussions of joint government in Mumbai and New Delhi last week that resulted in a series of new agreements across various sectors to further boost strategic ties and economic exchange.

Trade between the two countries is estimated to grow by more than 60 percent over the next five years from the current level of around US $ 60 billion, with investments and imports / exports in a variety of sectors, including energy, defense, manufacturing, aerospace, health, education, tourism, science and technology. The UAE is the 10th largest foreign - and largest Arabic - investor in India.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways President and CEO, said: "The bilateral relations between the UAE and India continue to grow based on years of friendship and deep commitment to strengthening economic, cultural and trade ties.

"With Etihad Airways and Jet Airways together offering more than 44,000 seats each week between Abu Dhabi and India, it is clear that we are a key to the dynamic Indian economy element. There is no more room to grow and we are looking to the many opportunities exist to develop our operations.

"Our investment in Jet Airways was directed to join the success story of India. Before the deal Jet, Etihad Airways takes only two percent of international traffic to and from India. We have helped Jet Airways return to profitability . Today, Jet Airways is our main partner capital contribution revenue and passenger with Etihad Airways, and India is the main source market for Abu Dhabi international visitors. "

Etihad Airways hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport serves as a main connector for air transport between India and the world, offering consumers the ease of transfer options and more trips across multiple frequencies across India Abu Dhabi and beyond. "

Since the launch of flights from Abu Dhabi to India in September 2004 with regular services to Mumbai, Etihad Airways has rapidly increased its presence across India by introducing 10 additional gateways and increase frequency in many sectors, including flights three times daily on seven routes. As of May 1, the airline will launch its award-winning Airbus A380 operations to Mumbai.

Current destinations of India Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi are Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram. Jet Airways offers gateways of additional India Pune, Lucknow, Goa and Mangalore as well as numerous domestic connections.

Etihad Airways commitment to India is reflected in its commitment to the business community. Last year, the company became a founding member of the UAE Business Council in India. The key objective of the organization is to act as a catalyst for business entities to exchange ideas and promote economic synergy between the UAE and India.

Mr. Hogan added. "India is a crucial not only for the UAE Etihad Airways but own market, therefore we welcomed the opportunity to become a founding member of the UAE Business Council in India Our alliance strategic with Jet Airways means that the two are leading to a greater number of business travelers and leisure between the UAE and India. we hope that using these ties to make a strong contribution to the UAE business Council in India.

"As an airline, which play an integral role in facilitating business, and seeing the enormous investment opportunities in India in the UAE, we are delighted to be part of the growth story of India."

Apart from the physical investments, Etihad Airways and Jet are entering the second of a three-year deal as the exclusive partner and main sponsor of Mumbai Indians, cricket champions crowned the Pepsi Indian Premier League (IPL) airlines the last year. Both vehicles have also co-sponsored other sporting and community events key twice taking training courses Manchester City Football Club to India that offers young people from different educational backgrounds top grade.

Next month, Etihad Airways will take part in the India Aviation 2016 in Hyderabad, the biennial conference and exhibition showcasing aviation industry in India. Organized by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the event provides the airline with another platform to engage with policy makers, experts in aviation and other key figures of the entire aviation industry India.

In 2020, it is expected that national and international passenger traffic through airports in India will double to 450 million. The World Tourism Organization of the United Nations predicts more than 50 million Indians traveling abroad annually by 2020. Etihad Airways commitment to tap the large market of trips abroad and contribute to the growth of inbound tourism is central to its strategy growth.