The first Etihad Regional-branded aircraft was unveiled at the announcement, which sees the UAE national carrier tie up with Switzerland’s Darwin Airline, based out of Lugano and Geneva.
The 50-seat Saab 2000 was emblazoned with the new airline and boasted a new interior as well as crew uniforms, which were showcased for the first time at Zurich Airport.
The new livery will adorn all 10 aircraft in the fleet by the end of June 2014, according to the official statement from Etihad Regional. The carrier operates two-class flights.
Etihad’s president and CEO, James Hogan, said that Darwin Airlines shares a passion for “delivering an outstanding service to travellers, with greater choice and more convenience.”
Following regulatory approval, Abu Dhabi’s airline is set to acquire a 33.3 percent in the Swiss Airline as part of the alliance strategy. Darwin’s CEO, Maurizio Merlo, said the deal was “good news for travellers and for Europe’s regional economies.”
Etihad Regional, operated by Darwin Airline, currently offers year round flights to 15 destinations in Europe using the fleet of 10 Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft. By mid-2014, this will more than double to 34 destinations.
The new, non-stop routes will be to Stuttgart in February; Dusseldorf, London City, Berlin, Poznan, Wroclaw, Zurich, Toulouse, Tirana and Zagreb in April; Belgrade and Turin in May; and Bordeaux, Marseille, Nantes, Linz, Graz, Lyon and Verona in June.
Along these new routes, Etihad Regional's network will include seven European gateways served by Etihad Airways – Geneva, Amsterdam, Paris, Düsseldorf, Belgrade, Zurich (from June) and Rome (from July).
