Etihad Airways has launched its summer network with the airline’s inaugural flight to Nice in the French Riviera.
The new seasonal route between Abu Dhabi and the famous seaside destination landed at Cote d’Azur Airport just after 10am on Wednesday.
There was a celebratory atmosphere in the air and on the ground as pilots waved UAE and French flags from the cockpit of the Boeing Dreamliner.
Travellers on the service were given Etihad bags to mark the launch of the seasonal flight.
The tote bags are crafted from upcycled flight blankets with the message “Hello Summer” imprinted on the front. Each contains a reusable drinks bottle and sparkling water.
Etihad is operating two weekly flights from now until September to the seaside destination via its twin-aisle Boeing 787 jets.
The outbound service from the UAE is an extension of the airline's Rome Fiumicino route, which means passengers need to disembark and go through security in Italy, before reboarding the jet for a short 49-minute flight to Nice.
With the transfer included, the journey takes about nine hours. Return flights are non-stop from Nice to Abu Dhabi, with a much more manageable flight time of just over six hours.
Etihad Captain Driss Moussaoui was in charge of the flight, which had wheels up a little after 3am on Wednesday morning in the UAE.
“I was lucky enough to pilot Etihad’s first flight in 2003 and now I’m proud to be chosen to operate this first flight into the south of France,” he told The National.
With the airline operating to Cote d’Azur Airport for the first time, a lot of preparation went into the trip.
“As with all of our operations, this is very carefully planned. The flight operations team first do a risk assessment on Nice airport and then prepare an airport briefing for the pilots. All pilots do flight simulator training at Etihad’s Training Academy before we actually fly the route,” said Moussaoui.
Summer flights to Santorini and Zanzibar
The newest destination for the national airline of the UAE is one of five seasonal routes that Etihad will operate this summer.
Flights to the historic city of Heraklion in Crete and to the Spanish port city of Malaga also commenced on Wednesday.
Two more destinations are being added to the airline's summer network later this week with flights to the Greek isle of Santorini launching on Thursday and services to Zanzibar starting Friday.
Both of these destinations will be serviced by Etihad’s Airbus A320 jets and will have three round-trip flights per week.
“Summer adventurers have plenty to discover with Etihad this year,” said Martin Drew, the airline's senior vice president of global sales.
“From the stunning beaches of the Costa del Sol to the picture-perfect French Riviera, Etihad’s summer network offers even more opportunities to get away and experience the wonder of travel in 2022.”
Etihad’s new routes mean the airline is now flying to more than 70 destinations around the world.
All five seasonal summer routes will be in operation until mid-September.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RACE CARD
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 1,000m
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Al Ain Mile Group 3 (PA) Dh350,000 1,600m
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Amith's selections:
5pm: AF Sail
5.30pm: Dahawi
6pm: Taajer
6.30pm: Pharitz Oubai
7pm: Winked
7.30pm: Shahm
8pm: Raniah
The biog
Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren
Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies
Education: High school in Thatta, a city now in Pakistan
Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India
Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy
Results
6pm: Dubai Trophy – Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner: Silent Speech, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby
(trainer)
6.35pm: Jumeirah Derby Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (T)
1,800m
Winner: Island Falcon, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Dirt)
1,400m
Winner: Rawy, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
7.45pm: Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Desert Fire, Hector Crouch, Saeed bin Suroor
8.20pm: Al Fahidi Fort – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Naval Crown, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.55pm: Dubawi Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Al Tariq, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watsons
9.30pm: Aliyah – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Dubai Icon, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Omar%20Hilal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Muhammad%20Farrag%2C%20Bayoumi%20Fouad%2C%20Nelly%20Karim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Arabian Gulf League fixtures:
Friday:
- Emirates v Hatta, 5.15pm
- Al Wahda v Al Dhafra, 5.25pm
- Al Ain v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, 8.15pm
Saturday:
- Dibba v Ajman, 5.15pm
- Sharjah v Al Wasl, 5.20pm
- Al Jazira v Al Nasr, 8.15pm
The%20specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More on animal trafficking
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
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The years Ramadan fell in May
The five pillars of Islam
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Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
