With the launch of two additional services to India, both to the southern state of Kerala, Etihad Airlines takes the total number of flights to India to 10.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has introduced two new daily services to Kerala from the New Year’s Day.

In a press statement, Etihad Airways says that with effect from January 1, 2024, the airline has commenced operating flights from Abu Dhabi to Kozhikode (CCJ) and Thiruvananthapuram (TRV).

Until March 30, 2024, EY0248 will depart from Abu Dhabi to Kozhikode at 14:40 everyday, whereas the return flight will leave Kozhikode at 21:30 the same day. From March 31 until October 26, EY0249 will depart from Abu Dhabi at 14:40 and from Kozhikode at 21:40 the same day. 

Similarly, until March 30, EY0292 will depart from Abu Dhabi to Thiruvananthapuram at 03:20, whereas the return flight will leave Thiruvananthapuram at 10:05. From March 31 to October 26, EY0293 will depart from Abu Dhabi at 02:55 and from Thiruvananthapuram at 09:50.

The airline says that the two new nonstop services take the total number of Indian gateways served by it to 10. In 2023, Etihad reintroduced services to Kolkata. Furthermore, the airline has increased the frequencies of flights to Mumbai and Delhi, two of its busiest routes, from two per day to four.

“We have established a fantastic group of nonstop 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. 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,” says Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad.

For this year, Etihad has already announced new flights to Boston starting on March 31 and to Nairobi from May 1, as well as an inaugural direct service to Nice and direct flights to the Greek isles of Mykonos and Santorini.

Starting November 14, 2023 Etihad has already moved all its operations in Abu Dhabi to the new Terminal A that can handle 45 million passengers annually.