MORE CHOICES FOR TRAVELLERS AS ETIHAD SERVICES SET TO CRASH FARES

 

The launch last week of six flights per week between Abu Dhabi and Lagos by Etihad Airways, United Arabs Emirates (UAE) national carrier, will herald another regime of fare on the Nigeria-UAE-Europe’s routes.

The airline now presents more choices to travellers on that route and to those connecting flights between the UAE/Middle-East and Europe.

Etihad makes it the third airline to operate between Lagos and the Middle East, and connecting flights to Europe, thereby breaking the duopoly.

The six weekly flights will be operated by an A330-200 aircraft, configured to carry 22 passengers in ‘pearl business class’ and 240 passengers in ‘coral’ economy class.

Speaking on its competitive offer to Nigerians, Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer of the Airline, said, “Our class is one of the best in airline experience, we will deliver best service and above expectations to travelers; air travel has become price and product sensitive and we don’t have to be exceptional in that area.

“We are delighted to launch Etihad Airways flight to Lagos and our first passenger destination in West Africa. This is a momentous occasion in Etihad Airways history as we expand our flight network in Africa and increase ties between the UAE and Nigeria.”

Analysts say the coming of Etihad will now present stiff competition among foreign carriers as they will want to improve on their services, products and offers.

“What it means is that the travelling public is at the receiving end of the frequencies, we can now choose who to travel with and at what cost because they can’t afford all the same fares and products,” he said.

The airline said senior Etihad Airways executives would meet government officials and local tourism representatives as well as evening reception to celebrate the new flights.

Baumgartner said the airline would have interline agreement with domestic carriers in order to offer seamless travel to passengers through hitch-free distribution.

He added that travel agencies would also be given the opportunity to sell their tickets, adding that its success in Nigeria depends on them.

“With our modern aircraft technology and our operations to Abu Dhabi, the capital city of UAE, we take customers closer to the economy and market with best products and services,” he said.

In Africa, the airline operates to Cairo, Casablanca, Johannesburg, Khartoum, Nairobi and Tripoli.

Etihad Airways is lead sponsor of Manchester City Football Club and the airline’s logo has been on the Manchester City shirt since 2009 and it became naming sponsor of the club’s Etihad stadium and campus in August 2011.

However, its sister company, Emirates, said recently that it had improved its service to Nigerian customers with the introduction of Boeing 777 aircraft on the Lagos route.

The airline, which showcased the aircraft recently said that it was poised to give its Nigerian customers the most desirable comfort in the airline and therefore an aircraft with the highest standard of passenger comfort.

The Boeing 777 aircraft came with luxurious private suites in First Class, lie flat beds in Business Class and generously-sized Economy Class seats.

Emirates currently operate 14 flights to Lagos, served by a combination of Boeing 777-300 and Airbus 340-500.

“Emirates utilise a Boeing 777:300 on flight EK0784 offering eight private suites in First Class, 42 seats in Business Class and 304 Economy Class seats for a total of 354 seats; and also tons of belly-hold cargo,” the airline said.

As the presence of more airlines on the Europe routes ignite more competition, British Airways (BA), which had been a dominant airline on the route, had also been rolling out discount fares to glue its travellers to it.

BA passengers in the World Traveller class from Abuja and Lagos to London recently enjoyed $439 and $489, respectively.