Wednesday, June 4, 2014

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

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

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.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

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

Thursday, April 17, 2014

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.