Indian Connect

Etihad Airways has shared a strong bond with India since 2004. Neha Gupta Kapoor reports on how the airline has expanded on its relationship with the country in 2017 alone.

- Neha Gupta Kapoor

The UAE’s national carrier, Etihad Airways launched in 2003, a year before it began operations to Mumbai in September 2004, followed by Delhi. Since then, it has added many more Indian destinations to its route map. In 2013 it partnered with India’s full-service airline, Jet Airways and together, both have 14 direct flights between Abu Dhabi, Etihad’s hub, and India.

CHANGES

Etihad Airways closed its ticketing offices in India this April, but this doesn’t mean the country isn’t a port of importance to the airline. In a world that’s rapidly turning digital, airline passengers find booking through websites easier, as opposed to visiting a booking office.

The same applies to Etihad passengers in India who can continue making flight reservations through the airline’s website and call centre support. Etihad says that this move from physical offices in India to online travel agencies follows the growing demand for 24/7 access to the reservation desk.