New city pairings thanks to Routes conference

Etihad Airways announced two new services  to Japan following meetings at the September event. The carrier will introduce a new five times weekly direct service between Abu Dhabi and Tokyo Narita from March 27, 2010. However, Etihad will begin its services to Japan with an onward connection to its current Abu Dhabi–Beijing service to Nagoya beginning on February 1, 2010. Both routes are subject to final regulatory clearance and are to be operated with A330 aircraft.

A further route, from United Airlines, will fly from the airline’s Washington Dulles hub to Bahrain. The flight is an extension to its current Dulles-Kuwait City service.

Nigel Mayes, Routes’ Managing Director, explained: “The carriers had actively been requesting proposals prior to the event through the Route Exchange element on our website. The introduction of the new routes was then discussed by each party in the meeting facilities provided at World Routes, a place where real business takes place. These services are the latest in a long line that have begun as a result of contacts initiated at Routes.”

Syed Mohammed Mehdi, Director of marketing and promotion at Bahrain International Airport, said: “The importance of the meetings that take place at World Routes really shouldn’t be underestimated. It is testament to the great business and networking opportunities that the event affords that we were able to begin the dialogue that has resulted in the launch of the new routes.”  
 
The United Airlines route was announced as a direct result of World Routes in Beijing. The new service is planned to commence from Bahrain International Airport to Washington Dulles on April 18, 2010.  It will be the only same-plane service operated between the Gulf state and North America.