Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is celebrating a significant milestone this month – 20 years of service to India. The journey began on September 26, 2004, with the launch of flights to Mumbai, followed by services to New Delhi just a few months later. Since then, Etihad’s commitment to the Indian market has grown exponentially. Today, the airline boasts a network spanning 11 gateways in India, including recent additions like Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, and Jaipur.
To meet the increasing demand, Etihad has boosted its seat capacity between Abu Dhabi and India, adding more flight frequencies to cities like Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. This has translated into over 50 extra flights per week to India compared to last summer, providing travelers with more convenient departure times and greater flexibility for onward connections.
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, expressed the airline’s pride in reaching this milestone. “India is a strategically important market for Etihad, and we’re extremely proud to be celebrating 20 years of flying to this incredible country,” he stated. He also highlighted Etihad’s growth trajectory, noting that when the airline launched its first flight to Mumbai, it was only its 8th global destination. Today, Etihad connects passengers to 80 destinations worldwide, with ambitious plans to reach 125 by 2030.
In recognition of this momentous occasion, Etihad is introducing the Airbus A380 on the Mumbai-Abu Dhabi route, operating three times per week until the end of the year. Indian travelers can now experience the unparalleled luxury of this iconic aircraft. Additionally, Etihad is offering discounts of up to 20% on flights to and from India, bookable through etihad.com from September 19 to 21 for travel between October 1, 2024, and March 15, 2025. These special fares open doors to global destinations like Boston, New York, Paris, and London.
Furthermore, travelers transiting through Abu Dhabi can enjoy a complimentary two-night hotel stay through Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Stopover program, available year-round for bookings on etihad.com.
Beyond these exciting offers, Etihad has demonstrated its commitment to the Indian market through meaningful partnerships that resonate with Indian consumers. Earlier this year, the airline became the official sponsor of the Chennai Super Kings, captivating fans with exciting match-day activations, including giveaways like yellow aircraft-shaped whistles. The partnership also featured cricket legend MS Dhoni in its advertising campaigns.
In another celebration of its 20th anniversary, Etihad announced its sponsorship of Mumbai City FC, a leading professional football team with two Indian Super League titles to its name. The airline will serve as the Official Front of Shirt sponsor for the team.
Moving beyond the world of sports, Etihad has enlisted Bollywood superstar Katrina Kaif as a brand ambassador. Kaif features in various advertisements that showcase the airline’s exceptional guest experience.
This summer, Etihad took another step towards catering to the unique needs of Indian travelers by introducing local catering for flights departing from India. Collaborating with local chefs and caterers across its 11 Indian destinations, Etihad now features menus that reflect the rich tapestry of Indian culinary traditions. Travelers from Delhi can savor dishes inspired by Mughlai, Punjabi, and street food influences, while those flying from Mumbai will experience the flavors of Maharashtrian cuisine. Similar regional twists are available for travelers departing from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Kerala.
In its commitment to enhancing the booking experience for its Indian guests, Etihad recently launched a Hindi language website. On board, passengers can access a variety of multi-language programming, including the latest Bollywood films and music videos available in languages such as Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Bengali, Gujarati, and Marathi.
With a workforce of over 10,000 employees from 140 nationalities based in Abu Dhabi and its global offices, Etihad employs around 1,700 Indian nationals across various commercial and operational roles, reflecting the strong presence of Indian professionals in the UAE.
