Etihad Airways to start operations to Toronto

Etihad's guests will be able to book tickets online from the end of July 2005 at www.etihad.ae

"We are looking forward to our first trans-Atlantic flight to North America after only two years of operations. Our flight to Canada will be a launch pad for our services to the USA in summer 2006," said Ian Ferguson Brown, Etihad's Head of Communications. "This new operation reflects our commitment to place guests' needs at the core of our strategic development, especially with regard to destination selection criteria. Currently, there are no direct flights from the UAE to Canada, so this route new will provide our guests with greater flexibility when traveling to Europe and North America."
The new route to Toronto via Brussels is expected to significantly enhance the link between the UAE, Europe and Canada, providing even more opportunities for business and tourism.
Bilateral trade between Canada and the UAE is expected to double this year. The Canadian Business Council (CBC) in Abu Dhabi was launched in March 2005, paving the way for even more Canadian companies to continue investing and expanding operations in the UAE, especially in the energy, environment, infrastructure, and health sectors.
The launch of this new destination supports one of Etihad's key goals of offering the people of Abu Dhabi and the UAE access to as many of the world's capitals as possible and ensuring Abu Dhabi's role as a hub between East and West, North and South. Etihad hopes to add New York as a destination in 2006.