Effective 1 June 2020, Etihad Airways (Etihad), the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will transfer all its flights to and from Abu Dhabi and Beijing, and its flights to and from Beijing to Nagoya, Japan, to the new state-of-the-art Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX).
Robin Kamark, Etihad Aviation Group Chief Commercial Officer, said: “In October last year, Abu Dhabi Airports Company inked a sister-airport partnership with Beijing Daxing International Airport, which will strengthen the capital-to-capital link. Today, we are proud to announce that Etihad Airways will be one of the first airlines in the region to move to Beijing’s iconic Daxing International Airport.
“Since launching flights between Beijing and Abu Dhabi 12 years ago, we have experienced huge growth in China’s tourism and aviation markets, and enjoyed strong demand from business and leisure travellers, and cargo, assisted by direct services, codeshare partners, the mutual visa-exemption policy between the two nations implemented in January 2018, and the great joint efforts put into promoting bi-directional routes. The move also further reinforces our commitment to the China market and our Chinese guests, and contributes to the promising bilateral relationship.
“Whilst the spread of COVID-19 has posed a major challenge for all airlines serving China, with a massive drop in demand on key routes, we remain optimistic that the situation will improve by the summer and we continue serving Beijing from Abu Dhabi presently, demonstrating our unwavering support and commitment to our Chinese partners and the China market as a whole,” Mr. Kamark added.
The daily flights will continue to be operated by the technologically advanced Boeing 787 Dreamliner, featuring the airline’s innovative, award-winning cabin designs and products, complemented by its acclaimed service and hospitality. Flights include Food and Beverage Managers in Business and a Flying Nanny in Economy to provide specialised care for families with young children.
About Beijing Daxing International Airport
The new Zaha Hadid-designed aviation hub, is the largest single-structure airport terminal and integrated transportation hub, projected to reach a network of 28 cities in China, home to 202 million people, by high speed train within three hours. The terminal’s major rail transportation links include high-speed rail, inter-city, and subway connections, providing Etihad’s customers with greater air-rail connectivity across China, enabling a reduction in the carbon footprint of domestic connecting travel through the capital.
The airport is a pioneer in the use of double-deck departure and arrival platforms and is equipped with technologically advanced services such as facial-recognition equipment and baggage-tracking systems. The environmentally-focused facility features several sustainability initiatives including carbon reduction policies, solar paneling, and systems collecting rainwater for re-cycling are re-use.
