iscover
Australians will have a new one-stop option to Italy from October when Etihad Airways launches flights to Venice from its Abu Dhabi hub.
The daily service with two-class Airbus A319s featuring 16 business and 90 economy class seats takes off on October 30 2016, Etihad said in a statement.
Venice will be Etihad’s third Italian destination alongside Milan and Rome. The launch of its Venice service would coincide with the withdrawal of Etihad alliance and equity partner Alitalia from the route.
The flights will operate as an overnight service from Abu Dhabi, arriving at Venice’s Marco Polo Airport a little after 0630. The reciprocal is scheduled to take off from Venice just before 1100 and arrive back in Abu Dhabi at 1955.
“Launching our service to Venice further supports a very popular passenger route between Italy, our Abu Dhabi hub and onwards throughout Etihad Airways’ growing network, as far afield as Australia,” Etihad chief strategy and planning officer Kevin Knight said.
Etihad, which is a Virgin Australia major shareholder and alliance partner, flies to Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney from its Abu Dhabi hub.
Other one-stop options for Australians headed to Venice include Emirates (via Dubai) and Qatar (via Doha).
Jane
says:What a pity Qantas is not serving the Italian market, what a different 777s, almost twenty years ago, would have made, and now the 787 (just arriving at Qantas, as ANA takes delivery of its 50th). Unfortunately thinking big (747 & a380) has meant for a smaller offering from Qantas to Europe and the world.
JL
says:Isn’t the Abu Dhabi to Venice flight a 6 and a half hour trip?
Far too long for me in A319 Economy!
Anil Kattula
says:Qantas wouldn’t be interested in Italy! Most Australian’s with Italian ancestry live in Melbourne. Same with services to Greece. Look at their services to India. Everytime they operated from Melbourne they were a success Shift them to Sydney and route fails! Qantas is run by white Anglo Saxons living in Sydney. Unless Sydney benefits Qantas isn’t interested. Qantas stands for Questionable Airline Now Totally All Sydney!
Craigy
says:@Anil
How do you know the Melb – India route for Qantas was profitable?
And your acronym is a nonesense
George C
says:Seat pitch in an Ethiad A319 economy is 32 inches. Economy in an A380 is 31 inches. The flight duration would be more or less the same regardless of the aircraft. Same goes for the service. Hardly a hardship.
Stuart lawrence
says:Would not distance be too much for a airbus 319
Tristan
says:Having spent the flight in an Alitalia A330 recently with about 25% load I can see why Etihad has gone down this path of downsizing.
Ian Deans
says:Anil Kattula’s acronym may be a nonsense, but it is a bit of fun with an element of fact. Qantas is, has always been, and will most likely always be SYDNEY focussed.