Etihad Airways to fly to Brazil

Abu Dhabi, June 4, 2012 (WAM) - Etihad Airways yesterday unveiled plans to fly to Brazil, the airline's first South American destination. "Brazil is a logical next step for us and will mark the sixth continent we serve and our coming of age as a truly global airline," James Hogan, Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer, said. The daily Sao Paulo flights will start in June, 2013. The service will be the first direct air link between Abu Dhabi and any South American country and will mean Etihad Airways serves all of the BRIC* high growth nations. Brazil is the world's sixth largest economy, having overtaken the UK in 2011. It is the largest country in South America and has the biggest population, at almost 200 million. Its trade and tourism will be boosted by its hosting of both the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016. Hogan said: "Business and tourism flows between the United Arab Emirates and Brazil have been growing and will be strengthened by our daily direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Sao Paulo." Brazil's Ambassador to the UAE, Joao de Mendonca Lima Neto, said: "I congratulate Etihad Airways on its announcement that it will open a daily direct flight between Abu Dhabi, and Sao Paulo, the commercial and financial centre of Brazil. "We are witnessing significant growth in the bilateral relations between Brazil and the UAE and we are certain that Etihad Airways flights will create new opportunities for government, trade, tourism and cultural exchanges." Brazil's Minister of Tourism, Gastao Dias Vieira, said: "These direct flights by Etihad Airways provides yet another link for our people, cultures and business. Brazil is currently the UAE's fourth largest trading partner with bi-lateral trade between the two countries valued at US$2.85 billion. Authorities hope to lift this to US$10 billion within five years. There are 25 major Brazilian companies with offices in Abu Dhabi, and the UAE buys sugar, soya beans, meat, aircraft, heavy oils, tractors and construction vehicles from the South American country. Exports from the UAE to Brazil include oil rigs, aviation fuel, steel, aluminium goods and plastics. Etihad Airways' service will also provide seamless connections from Brazil to the airline's global network and offer greater connectivity over Abu Dhabi to markets in the Gulf Co-operation Council, the Indian Subcontinent and Asia. The flights will begin on 1 June 2013 operated by a three class A340-600 aircraft, offering 12 Diamond First class, 32 Pearl Business class and 248 Coral Economy seats - a total 2,044 seats per week. Already in 2012 Etihad Airways has announced the launch of non-stop daily flights to Washington, D.C., Basra, Lagos, Addis Ababa, the Indian city of Ahmedabad and Vietnam. These cities are part of the airline's 10-year network growth plan which will see Etihad Airways fly to up to 100 destinations with a fleet of more than 150 aircraft by 2020. – Emirates News Agency, WAM