Etihad to fly Bangalore from January

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways will launch flights to Bangalore (Bengaluru), the airline’s eighth destination in India, from January next year.

From January 1, Etihad will commence a four flight per week service from Abu Dhabi to Bangalore, the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka and the country’s third most populous city. Etihad will begin daily flights to Bangalore at the commencement of the summer scheduling season effective March 27, 2011.

Bangalore will be the 66th destination worldwide for the UAE’s national carrier.

James Hogan, chief executive officer of Etihad Airways, said: “We are delighted to launch our new service to Bangalore and to serve our customers in Karnataka.

 “Etihad is committed to serving the Indian market and people, whether it is Indian nationals who are residing in India or in countries across the world. Abu Dhabi and Bangalore are both growing cities, emerging as major economic hubs and the new service will further enable commercial ties to develop between India and the UAE.”

Commenting on the launch of the new service, Marcel Hungerbuehler, president of Bengaluru International Airport (BIAL), said: “Our focus has always been on ensuring that we provide our passengers with better connectivity between Bangalore and the rest of the world.

Etihad will operate a two class Airbus A320 on the new Bangalore route configured to carry 136 passengers with 16 in Business class and 120 in Economy class.

From January 1, Etihad’s flight EY286 to Bangalore will depart Abu Dhabi on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 10.15 pm and arrive at Bengaluru International Airport at 3.25 am the following day. The return flight, EY287, will depart Bangalore on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 4.20 am and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 7.00 am the same day.

From March 27, Etihad’s flight EY286 will depart Abu Dhabi daily at 10.15 pm and arrive in Bangalore at 3.45 am the following day. The return service, EY287, will depart Bangalore daily at 4.45 am and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 7.00 am the same day.

Etihad also flies to seven other Indian destinations including New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad and Kochi.

Once the service to Bangalore begins, the airline will operate 49 flights to India per week, and following the commencement of the daily services, it will offer 52 services per week.