Etihad Airways has introduced two new daily services to the Indian state of Kerala commencing January 1. The non-stop services from Abu Dhabi to Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram bring the total number of Indian gateways served by the national airline of the UAE to 10, underscoring the airline’s commitment to providing easy access to its expanding global network for guests travelling to and from the Subcontinent.

“We have established a fantastic group of non-stop routes between India and Abu Dhabi, providing customers with easier access to our growing network without transiting through one of the main Indian hub airports,” Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad said.

“Seamless and practical connections at Abu Dhabi ensure that our guests can easily access destinations across the GCC, Europe – including our four daily services to London – and North America. Moreover, they have the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic stopover in Abu Dhabi as an integral part of their journey.”

The new services help enhance accessibility to the countryside and beaches that Kerala is renowned for, creating increased inbound tourism to the region. Additionally, it streamlines travel for professionals visiting the burgeoning business hubs in the area, a statement said.

“India is one of the largest and most crucial markets for Etihad. The airline has played a significant role in facilitating travel and trade between the UAE and India. Since its inception, our network planning has been pragmatic, strategically embracing new opportunities in response to the growing demand and development in the region,” Salil Nath, Etihad’s India head said.

Hence, Etihad has consistently propelled the expansion of the airline’s network in India, encompassing Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram. The airline has not exhausted its bilateral weekly seat allocation to and from India and still has 10,000 unutilised seat per week, as it only operates 40,000 of the 50,000 allocated seats.

In 2023, the airline reintroduced services to Kolkata, a vital Indian gateway connecting Eastern India to global destinations. Furthermore, the airline has increased the frequencies of flights to Mumbai and Delhi, two of its most popular routes, from two per day to an impressive four flights per day.

During the New Year, Etihad announced new flights to Boston and the USA starting March 31 and to Nairobi, Kenya on May 1. Its exciting summer schedule includes an inaugural non-stop service to Nice, France, and direct flights to the Greek isles of Mykonos and Santorini.