Photo gallery: new Etihad Regional aircraft, cabin interiors and crew
By David Flynn, January 21 2014
Etihad Airways' newest ploy for the business traveller is the upscale Etihad Regional airline.
The Swiss-based operation will use its fleet of ten nimble 50-seat Saab 2000 turbo-prop aircraft to lace a new network map across Europe, offering passengers direct connections to dozens of major cities as well as tapping into a half-dozen cities served by Etihad (including Amsterdam, Paris, Düsseldorf and later this year Rome and Zurich) plus the hubs of siblings airberlin and Air Serbia.
Those connections plus codesharing with Etihad will see well-heeled flyers whisked between Etihad's major European services and the new Etihad Regional network through to Belgrade, Bordeaux, Cambridge, London City, Lyon, Marseille, Stuttgart, Toulouse, Turin and Zagreb, among others.
Etihad Regional is a rebranding of Switzerland's regional carrier Darwin Airline, in which Etihad last year purchased a one-third stake.
The new brand comes with new crew uniforms...
... plus upgraded cabins for Darwin's fleet.
The Saab 2000s now boast all-leather seats.
Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan describes the launch of Etihad Regional as "a step-change" for his airline.
"We are creating a unique approach to network development for global airlines. European travellers will now be able to connect from a far, far wider range of European towns and cities on Etihad-branded aircraft, through Abu Dhabi to our destinations worldwide."
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Cathay Pacific - Asia Miles
25 Apr 2013
Total posts 542
They sure do look comfortable.
23 May 2012
Total posts 23
Really looking forward to being able to fly into LCY instead of LHR. Any word on VA earning opportunities here?
12 Jun 2013
Total posts 732
Wait, Etihad purchased a one third stake in a European airline, and next thing you know they're rebranded Etihad Regional and their FAs have tiny hats and neck-tight scarves? All of a sudden I'm concerned for Virgin Australia...
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
08 Aug 2012
Total posts 31
I'm not concerned, but Air Berlin does have an aircraft with the Eithad logo on its tail - demonstrating their shareholder alliance.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
VA's ethnic Asian crews in SQeqsue kebayas in 3... 2...
I mean, seriously? Darwin seems to have been a relatively small name, so they can get away with this. Virgin Australia is a big name. They won't try, because it wouldn't be worth it. Anyway, the other airline sides would block it.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Oct 2012
Total posts 149
It's actually a really good idea, but next thing you know emirates will have done the same and suddenly they're even more of a global brand.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1242
Beautiful cabin and those seats look mighty comfortable. Love the Saab 2000 too.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
The things you can do without jingoistic unions in your home base breathing down your neck and accusing you of selling out!
20 Jul 2011
Total posts 72
So this seems positively received - doubtless by some of the same people who howl at flying on a (far newer) QantasLink Dash-8...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
I love older turboprops. They're so loud you can't hear the whingers.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1242
Ha! Great post.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 416
Could this possibly be an example ifor Australia in a few years - Emirates Regional, formerly known as Qantas?
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