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Etihad starts daily non-stop Phuket flights

James Hogan, president and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways, said: “The new Phuket route is a natural expansion of our Thai network and a strong addition to our portfolio of leisure destinations, such as the Seychelles, Maldives and Sri Lanka.”

Dubai: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, on Sunday commenced daily non-stop flights between Abu Dhabi and Phuket, the airline’s second destination in Thailand.

The inaugural flight — EY430 — departed Abu Dhabi International Airport at 8:40am local time and touched down at 6:00pm at Phuket International Airport, where it was welcomed by a water cannon salute, a gathering of dignitaries and airline representatives, as well as a performance by traditional Thai dancers.

Situated off the west coast of Thailand in the tranquil Andaman Sea, Phuket is one of Thailand’s southernmost provinces and the largest island in the kingdom. Its pristine natural beaches, plethora of resorts, and year-round sunshine make it a top-ranking destination for holidaymakers the world over.

James Hogan, president and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways, said: “The new Phuket route is a natural expansion of our Thai network and a strong addition to our portfolio of leisure destinations, such as the Seychelles, Maldives and Sri Lanka.”

Phuket is one of the 10 new routes launched or to be launched by Etihad Airways in 2014. It will be followed by San Francisco on November 18 and Dallas on December 3.

New GM for Thailand

Meanwhile, Etihad Airways has appointed Dimitrios Karagkioules as general manager for Thailand. Karagkioules, who has more than 20 years of airline experience, takes up the Bangkok-based role after five years in Athens as Etihad general manager for Greece.

Prior to joining Etihad Airways, Karagkioules held a number of Athens-based sales and marketing management roles at Continental Airlines and Delta Airlines.

Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer of Etihad Airways, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dimitrios to the Asia Pacific management team and wish him success in the new role. As general manager for Thailand he will have significant responsibility for the performance of the Bangkok route — the busiest in the global network — and for our second Thai gateway, Phuket.”

business@khaleejtimes.com