Etihad Airways Plans Expansion into South America

Etihad Airbus A330-200

Etihad Airways announced plans to expand service into South America in the coming year. On June 1, 2013, the airline will launch its first route in the continent, with daily nonstop flights between its home base of Abu Dhabi and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The new service will also provide connections from Brazil to Etihad’s global network, offering connectivity via Abu Dhabi to markets in the Gulf Co-operation Council, the Indian subcontinent, and Asia.

Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and serves 86 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Australia, North America, and Asia from its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Its fleet consists of 67 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and the airline has 100 aircraft on order, including 10 of the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380.

According to the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, trade volumes between Brazil and the Arab world grew by 28% in 2011, and bi-lateral trade between Brazil and the United Arab Emirates is valued at nearly $3 billion.