ETIHAD AIRWAYS AND ALITALIA EXPAND CODESHARE WITH DIRECT ROME-ABU DHABI FLIGHTS

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and Alitalia, Italy’s flag carrier, today announced that direct Rome-Abu Dhabi flights would commence December 1, 2012.

Subject to government approvals, Alitalia will operate the four weekly flights using an Airbus A330 aircraft in conjunction with codeshare partner Etihad Airways.  The flights, with seating capacity for 230 passengers, will operate on a split schedule, ensuring maximum connectivity over Etihad Airways’ Abu Dhabi hub.

 

Etihad Airways will place its ‘EY’ code on the new Rome (Fiumicino) flights, providing travellers with direct access to the Italian capital from Abu Dhabi, building on the daily service it already operates to the northern Italian city of Milan.

 

In addition, Etihad Airways will codeshare on Alitalia-operated flights beyond Rome to the cities of Venice and Zurich.  The UAE flag carrier already codeshares on Alitalia-operated flights from Rome to Milan, Frankfurt, Munich, Geneva and Athens.

 

Alitalia will continue to place its ‘AZ’ code on Etihad Airways’ flights from Abu Dhabi to Bahrain, Muscat, Johannesburg, Bangkok, Melbourne and Sydney.

 

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “The ties between the UAE and Italy have never been stronger, and one of our key objectives all along was to provide our passengers with a direct service to Rome.

 

“We signed our initial codeshare with Alitalia back in December 2009, and it has been a great success.  Extending the deal now to cover direct Rome-Abu flights is a natural next step.

 

“This is fantastic news for both airlines’ passengers, giving them direct access to Rome and Abu Dhabi respectively, and beyond right across both networks, and at the same time allowing them to earn and burn frequent flyer miles on both airlines’ combined networks.”

 

Andrea Ragnetti, CEO of Alitalia, said: “I am proud to announce this important new route that Alitalia will operate from 1 December.  It’s the next step in a successful collaboration which we started in 2009 with Etihad Airways.

 

“The new Rome-Abu Dhabi route will allow both companies to offer their passengers a new direct service and, in particular for Alitalia passengers from Rome, it will open further the doors to exceptional business and tourist destinations around the world on Etihad Airways’ network.

 

“Moreover, today’s announcement is the best evidence of how Alitalia is undergoing a process of positive growth and development, even at a time when air transportation is facing many challenges.”

 

Etihad Airways is committed to Italy and this year celebrates five years of direct Abu Dhabi-Milan flights.

 

The new Rome-Abu Dhabi flights are on sale from today.

 

Etihad Airways (EY) Italy-UAE Winter Schedule       Alitalia (AZ) Italy-UAE Winter Schedule

Dept Sta

Arvl Sta

Freq

Dept Time

Arvl Time

a/c

Dept Sta

Arvl Sta

Freq

Dept Time

Arvl Time

a/c

MXP

AUH

.2.4.6.

21:00

06:10

A332

FCO

AUH

..3..6.

21:45

06:25

A330

MXP

AUH

1.3.5.7

10:45

19:55

A332

FCO

AUH

.2….7

11:15

19:55

A330

AUH

MXP

.2.4.6

09:05

13:00

A332

AUH

FCO

…4..7

08:15

12:10

A330

AUH

MXP

1.3.5.7

02:25

06:20

A332

AUH

FCO

1.3….

02:25

06:20

A330

 

 

– Ends –

 

 

About Etihad Airways

 

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, began operations in 2003, and in 2011 carried 8.3 million passengers. From its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad Airways serves 86 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America, with a fleet of 67 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and 100 aircraft on order, including 10 Airbus A380s, the world’s largest passenger aircraft. Etihad Airways also holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia and Aer Lingus. The airline commenced scheduled passenger services to Thailand in 2004, and today, it operates three flights daily between Bangkok and Abu Dhabi, using a two-class Boeing B777-300ER aircraft. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com

 

About Alitalia

Alitalia – Compagnia Aerea Italiana (www.alitalia.com) is Italy’s leading airline operating more than 5,500 weekly flights in the Summer season 2012, across a network of 95 destinations – 28 of which in Italy and 67 in the rest of the world, with 25 million passengers served in 2011 and a fleet of 153 aircraft. A plan is underway to renew the fleet. In the period January 2009 to August 2012, a total of 51 longhaul and short-to-medium-haul aircraft were phased in. By the end of 2012 the fleet renewal plan will be marked by deliveries of further 8 aircraft.  Effective January 1, 2013, Alitalia’s fleet will be among the youngest in the world with an average age of 6.5 years.  The Alitalia network is based at 7 airports: Rome, Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, Turin, Venice, Naples and Catania. In 2012 Alitalia enriched its network with new national and international connections from Rome Fiumicino airport. For more information, please visit www.alitalia.com