LONDON – Leading UAE carrier Etihad Airways has been named the most punctual airline in the Middle East and among the most reliable in the world by the global aviation analytics group OAG.
For 2022 punctuality ratings, Etihad was listed as the best in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
Punctuality is key
As already mentioned, the aviation analyst group OAG has placed UAE and Abu Dhabi based carrier Etihad at the top of their list for most punctual airline in the GCC region.
Etihad has achieved an on-time performance for arrivals within 15 minutes of 81%, all whilst also managing to maintain one of the lowest worldwide cancellation rates, further guaranteeing their guests trust and also providing an enhanced passenger experience.
On the OAG decision and their placement, Chief Operating Officer at Etihad Airways, Mohammad Al Bulooki, said:
“Our commitment to our guests, flying for business or leisure, is that Etihad delivers to its schedule; the airline continues to strive to increase its reliability through the efforts of its people and the deployment of technology and innovation.”
OAG’s standards
To receive such an accolade, OAG’s rule that the on-time performance is defined as “a flight arriving within 15 minutes of the scheduled time”, being a standard measure in the aviation industry. Of course, variable factors likely to affect operations are taken into account.
In addition to Etihad now being “awarded” this title by the OAG, their hub and main base, Abu Dhabi (AUH), was placed in the top five of the most punctual airports in the Middle East.
New European services
Amidst rising travel demand in the Asian region, the Middle East carrier Etihad now plans to inaugurate two further European services towards the end of 2023.
The European expansion will see the inauguration of a new route to Copenhagen, will Denmark as well as the new service for the airline to Düsseldorf, Germany
Launching 1 October, the flights will provide business travellers and holidaymakers in the UAE and these key European cities with convenient travel options to and from Abu Dhabi, with four weekly flights to Copenhagen and three weekly flights to Düsseldorf.
The flights will be operated using state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, offering one of the most comfortable experiences in the sky with 28 seats in Business and 262 in Economy.
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “We are thrilled to start flying to Denmark for the first time and to expand our network in Germany to our third city, providing guests with more holiday options and easier access between Abu Dhabi and Europe.”
“Our new flights will take off for the winter season — the perfect time for guests to escape the cold and enjoy Abu Dhabi’s beautiful beaches, world-class entertainment and rich heritage — and also ideal for travellers choosing to experience the unique allure of Europe in the winter.”
“With our network expanding to 66 cities, there are even more must-see destinations to plan your next great adventure with Etihad Airways.”
Visitors flying to Europe can look forward to discovering Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Scandinavia, famous for its colourful canals, café culture and attractions including Tivoli Gardens, the oldest amusement park in the world.
Previously served by Etihad, Düsseldorf is being relaunched and will be the airline’s third city in Germany after Frankfurt and Munich, both currently served with daily flights.
The city lies on the banks of the Rhine River and is renowned for its world-class shopping and thriving arts, fashion and music scene.
