Etihad Airways to launch daily service to San Francisco

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will expand its United States network to six destinations with the launch of a San Francisco service on 18 November 2014.

Daily flights will be operated to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) using a three-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft leased from its strategic partner Jet Airways, offering a total of eight seats in First Class, 30 seats in Business Class and 308 seats in Economy Class.

In addition to providing a direct connection from San Francisco to Abu Dhabi, the new service offers convenient onward connectivity to more than 30 destinations across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, Middle East, Africa and the island nations of the Indian Ocean, available through Etihad Airways’ global network and codeshare agreements with partner airlines.

Similarly in the opposite direction, flights to San Francisco will connect to destinations throughout the US, Canada and Mexico.

The forthcoming service to San Francisco will be followed by flights to Dallas / Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport from 3 December 2014, marking its sixth route within the country.

Located on the west coast of the United States, San Francisco is a leading tourism, culture and business hub. In 2013, a total of 16.9 million people visited the famous ‘City on the Bay’, as San Francisco is often described, with popular attractions including the breath-taking Golden Gate Bridge, the Fisherman’s Wharf marketplace, the abandoned prison on Alcatraz Island, and the large-scale shopping, theatre and restaurant haven of Union Square.

Etihad Airways’ inaugural flight to Yerevan touches down

Etihad Airways’ flight EY298 touched down on schedule at Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport this morning, marking the start of the airline’s new service between Abu Dhabi and the capital of the Republic of Armenia.

Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the cultural, economic and political heart of the country, with a population of more than a million. It’s also the largest city of Armenia and one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities - known as the “City of the Sun and Light” and famous for its vibrant nightlife, buzzing arts scene, cafe culture and Mediterranean mind-set.

Etihad will offer flights to Yerevan four-times-per-week at the following times:

Flight No.	Origin	Departs	Destination	Arrives	Frequency	Aircraft
EY298	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	22:30	Yerevan (EVN)	01:55 (+1)	Mon, Wed, Fri and Sun	A320
EY299	Yerevan (EVN)	03:10	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	06:15	Mon, Tue, Thu and Sat	A320

Note: All in local Abu Dhabi time.

Etihad Airways’ daily service to Los Angeles takes flight

Los Angeles is Etihad Airways’ fourth US destination, joining Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C. on the airline’s expanding network. This will increase further on 3 December this year with the addition of direct flights to Dallas / Fort Worth.

The Los Angeles service is set to be popular with guests looking to travel to California from other parts of the world. To make life that little bit easier, guests and their checked-in baggage flying from Abu Dhabi are also processed through all US immigration, customs and agriculture inspections, before boarding the aircraft, eliminating the need to do so on arrival in the US.

The aircraft initially serving the new Los Angeles route is a three-cabin, long-range Airbus 340-500 which can accommodate 240 guests with 12 First Class suites, 28 Business Class flatbed seats, and 200 Economy Class seats.

In mid-July, the service will transition to a three-cabin, long-range Boeing 777-200 LR which will be configured with 237 seats, including eight First Class suites, 40 Business Class flatbed seats, and 189 Economy Class seats.

Flight schedule:

Flight #	Departs	Departure	Arrives	Arrival	Frequency	Duration
EY 171	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	8:50am	Los Angeles (LAX)	2:20pm	Daily	16hr 30 min
EY 170	Los Angeles (LAX)	4:50pm	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	8:10pm +1	Daily	16hr 20 min

40 great things to do when in Norway

1. Hike Preikestolen
2. Taste licorice ice cream at Gangstad Gårdsysteri
3. Sleep in a lighthouse
4. Sail the entire coast of Norway on the Hurtigruten
5. Roam through the Vigeland sculpture park in Oslo
6. Fish for your own dinner at Havfruen in Trondheim
7. Climb the longest wooden staircase in the world
8. Watch the midnight sun
9. Visit the world’s largest halibut farm
10. Drive through the world’s longest road tunnel at Laerdal
11. Hunt for trolls along the Trollstigen mountain road
12. Explore the Jugendstil architecture of artsy Ålesund
13. Ride the famous Flåm Railway
14. Sunbathe at Bergen’s best beach at Helleneset!
15. Go to Hell! (Hell, Norway)
16. Hike up to the ultra-isolated Skalefllå farm in Geirangerfjord
17. Drive through the incredibly scenic Gudbrandsdalen
18. Go whalewatching in Andenes
19. Go hiking in Jotunheimen!
20. Ride the ferry through spectacular Lysefjord
21. Party in 24-hour sunlight in the summer
22. Explore Trondheim’s canals and cobblestone alleys by citybike
23. Visit a century-old farm (and taste the bread!) at Gulburet
24. Go clubbing in Oslo and see how hard Norway parties at night
25. Catch the dive show at the Atlantic Ocean Park in Ålesund
26. Drink from St. Olaf’s blessed spring (and be healed!) in Valldal
27. Admire the dandelions
28. Visit Holmenkollen, Norway’s iconic ski jump, and the fascinating ski museum
29. Ride a bike all the way down the Flåm valley
30. Visit Undredal stave church, one of the oldest in the country
31. Try the goat cheese chocolates at Fjordnær Geiranger Sjokalade
32. Go white-water rafting in Voss
33. Discover Norway’s Viking history
34. Conquer your fear of heights with a climb up Kjerag
35. Drive from Oslo to Bergen and count the dozens of tunnels you go through
36. Eat reindeer, a local delicacy
37. Attend the ceremony for the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo
38. Swim in the fjords (not as cold as you think!)
39. See the famous Northern Lights in the winter
40. Ski all year round – after all,  they invented it
41. Take the train and gawk at the landscapes that pass you by

For those of you who would like to explore the many wonderful cities in this country, you can get cheap flights to Norway from almost anywhere in the world. If you’re reading this from the Middle East, Etihad Airways offers regular deals on flights to Abu Dhabi from Norway all year round.

5 top tourist attractions in Denmark

The National Gallery of Denmark

Image source: Visit Copenhagan

The National Gallery of Denmark (Statens Museum for Kunst) is Denmark’s largest art museum, featuring outstanding collections of Danish and international art from the past seven centuries. Exhibits range from photography and installation art to media and contemporary art.

Tivoli Gardens

Image source: Wikipedia

Located just a few minutes’ walk from the Copenhagen Central Station, Tivoli Gardens is easily accessible and a must-see tourist attraction. A cascading waterfall, open-air film screenings and lots of rides and adventures, Tivoli Gardens is a great place to entertain the little ones. You will also find green areas (ideal for picnics), lakes, fountains and beautiful flowers, for the perfect relaxed afternoon.

The Little Mermaid

What's Denmark's biggest attraction, but also the smallest? The Little Mermaid, of course.
At Langelinje Pier you will find the wonderful bronze and granite sculpture (which turned a century old in August 2013) sitting gracefully.  The Little Mermaid symbolises the fairytale by Danish author and poet Hans Christian Andersen ()which was later a Disney movie) – it’s the story of a young mermaid who fell in love with a prince who lived on land, and often came up to the edge of the water to find  him.

Legoland

Image source: Travel Tour Guide

The original Legoland in Billund (150 miles west of Copenhagen) is one of the best attractions in Denmark for both adults and children. Almost everything is made up of millions and millions of Lego blocks. Ever since it opened its doors to the public in 1968, Legoland has brought endless locals and tourists flocking to its gates to enjoy countless attractions, indoor activities, exhibitions, and new thrill rides – fun for all ages.

The Strøget in Copenhagen

Image source: Copenhagen Portal

Europe's longest shopping street is also one of Denmark's most popular tourist destinations.  As the longest pedestrianised shopping strip in the whole of Europe, you will find everything from designer and high-street clothing brands, jewelry stores, souvenirs. If you don’t fancy shopping, Strøget is also a great place to grab a coffee or a spot lunch.

Once you arrive, enjoy the best of Denmark by coach, rail, boat or foot for fabulous tours of the cities.  For flights, check out Etihad Airways, flying daily from Abu Dhabi to Denmark.

Etihad Airways boosts flights to Beirut and Amman

If you’re planning a trip to Lebanon or Jordan this summer, you’re in luck. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates has announced its plans to increase flights to Beirut and Amman from 18 flights per week to triple daily schedules from July 2, 2014.

The additional flights will add over 800 seats per week between Abu Dhabi and the two major cities, which include 16 Pearl Business Class seats and 120 Coral Economy Class seats.

Etihad Airways started its operations to Beirut in November 2003, the airline’s first commercial route followed by services to the Jordanian capital Amman in December 2003 and has carried 2.1 million travellers since then on both routes.

New Amman Schedule

Flight number	Origin	Departs	Destination	Arrives	Frequency	Aircraft
EY 513	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	8:15	Amman (AMM)	10:25	Daily	A320
EY 514	Amman (AMM)	11:10	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	15:10	Daily	A320
EY515	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	13:15	Amman (AMM)	15:25	Daily	A320
EY516	Amman (AMM)	16:20	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	20:20	Daily	A320
EY511	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	0.5	Amman (AMM)	3:00	Daily	A320
EY512	Amman (AMM)	3:45	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	7:45	Daily	A320

New Beirut Schedule

Flight number	Origin	Departs	Destination	Arrives	Frequency	Aircraft
EY 533	Abu Dhabi (AUH)		Beirut (BEY)	3:50	Daily	A320
EY534	Beirut (BEY)	4:35	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	9:25	Daily	A320
EY537	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	11:25	Beirut (BEY)	14:35	Daily	A320
EY538	Beirut (BEY)	15:20	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	20:10	Daily	A320
EY535	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	8:00	Beirut(BEY)	11:10	Daily	A320
EY536	Beirut(BEY)	11:55	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	16:45	Daily	A320

Note: All in UAE local time

Etihad Airways increases flights to the Mediterranean to meet summer traffic demand

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will boost frequency and capacity to Athens and Larnaca from July 2014 onwards.

Athens - The Abu Dhabi-Athens route will increase from seven to 10 flights per week with the introduction of three new flights, which will provide passengers travelling to and from Athens with more choice and greater flexibility.

In addition, between 1 June and 30 September, Etihad Airways’ daily EY090/EY091 flights will be upgraded from the current 174-seat Airbus A321 operation to a 254-seat Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

New Etihad Airways Athens schedule (from 2 July 2014)

Flight #	Origin	Departs	Destination	Arrives	Frequency	Aircraft
EY091	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	09:10	Athens (ATH)	13:25	Daily	A330*
EY090	Athens (ATH)	14:30	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	20:10	Daily	A330*
EY099	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	02:50	Athens (ATH)	07:05	Weds, Fri, Sun	A320
EY098	Athens (ATH)	08:15	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	13:55	Weds, Fri, Sun	A320

*Etihad Airways’ two-class Airbus A330-200 wide-body aircraft will operate daily from Athens to Abu Dhabi between 1 June 2014 and 30 September 2014.

Larnaca - Etihad Airways will increase its base frequency on the Abu Dhabi-Larnaca route from three to five flights per week. Etihad Airways will also operate Larnaca as a daily service during the peak summer period from 1 July to 30 September 2014.

New Etihad Airways Larnaca schedule (1 July to 30 September 2014)

Flight #	Origin	Departs	Destination	Arrives	Frequency	Aircraft
EY093	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	09:25	Larnaca (LCA)	12:50	Daily	A320
EY094	Larnaca (LCA)	14:35	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	19:30	Daily	A320

New Etihad Airways Larnaca schedule (from 1 October 2014)

Flight #	Origin	Departs	Destination	Arrives	Frequency	Aircraft
EY093	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	09:25	Larnaca (LCA)	12:50	Mon, Weds, Fri, Sat, Sun	A320
EY094	Larnaca (LCA)	14:35	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	19:30	Mon, Weds, Fri, Sat, Sun	A320

Flights to Larnaca and flights to Athens can be booked from today at Etihad.com, through Etihad Airways Contact Centres, or via travel agents.