May 31,2007
Thiruvananthapuram
The UAE Government-owned Etihad Airways began flight operations to the State with the inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi landing at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport on Wednesday. Federal National Council Deputy Speaker Ahmed Shabeeb Al Dhaheri, Federal National Council member Mohammed Fadhel Al Hamili and others who part of the delegation from Abu Dhabi , along with the passengers in the inaugural flight, were given a traditional welcome.
Thiruvanathapuram is the third destination after Mumbai and New Delhi in the country to which the airline operates from Abu Dhabi . The flight EY 272 from Abu Dhabi will depart at 11.05 p.m. to reach the Thiruvananthapuram international airport on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. The EY 273 will depart from Thiruvananthapuram every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5.50 a.m. to reach Abu Dhabi at 8.15 a.m.
Flight inauguration
Thiruvananthapuram is the 39th destination of the Abu Dhabi-based airline. Flight operations to Nedumbassery will begin next week, making it the 40th destination of the airline. The weekly flights to Kochi will be on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. A function was organised here to mark the beginning of flight operations to the State. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan lighted the lamp.
Mr. Achuthanandan said the fares in the Gulf sector should be affordable for Non-Resident Keralites working in the Gulf countries. "You will succeed in the mission only if you are able to offer affordable rates to travellers," he told the officials. Mr. Dhaheri; Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs M. Vijayakumar; Etihad Airways executive vice-president, Sales and Services, Geert W. Boven; and member of the Chamber of Commerce, Abu Dhabi , Yusuf Ali spoke. Minister for Tourism Kodiyeri Balakrishnan; Minister for Health P.K. Sreemathy; V. Surendran Pillai, MLA; District Collector N. Ayyappan; and Regional Manager, Asia Pacific, Charles Phelps Penry were present.