A fierce competition is brewing on the Kangaroo Route to Sydney this winter, as major airlines ramp up their services to cater to increasing demand.
Following the recent announcement that Qatar Airways has boosted its capacity by 44%, Etihad Airways has revealed plans to strengthen its position by adding three additional weekly flights.
While these additional flights, representing approximately 1,000 seats per week, are currently operated by Virgin Australia under a code-share agreement, Etihad will take over these flights from February 2017. This strategic move will allow Etihad to market the flights more effectively and reduce passenger confusion by offering a seamless Etihad experience from Abu Dhabi to Sydney.
With this enhancement, Etihad will operate a double-daily service on the Abu Dhabi-Sydney route for the first time, providing more options and flexibility for travellers. This expanded schedule will conveniently connect at Abu Dhabi with numerous flights to and from the UK and mainland Europe.
The additional flights, EY450/EY451, will be operated by Etihad’s three-class Boeing 777-300ERs, featuring eight seats in First Class, 40 in Business Class, and 280 in Economy Class. The existing flights, EY454/EY455, will continue to be serviced by Etihad’s luxurious three-class Airbus A380s.
Etihad’s CEO, Peter Baumgartner, highlighted the importance of this expansion: “Australia is a critical part of our network, and we will continue to add capacity to meet the growing demand for business and leisure travel.”
The new winter schedule, effective from February 6, is as follows:
EY450 Abu Dhabi-Sydney: Departs 09.25, Arrives 06.15 (next day)
EY454 Abu Dhabi-Sydney: Departs 22.15, Arrives 19.15 (next day)
EY451 Sydney-Abu Dhabi: Departs 16.20, Arrives 23.55
EY455 Sydney-Abu Dhabi: Departs 21.50, Arrives 05.40 (next day)
As both Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways enhance their services, passengers on the Kangaroo Route can expect improved connectivity, more frequent flights, and a better overall travel experience this winter.