Etihad to launch new flights to Rome, Jaipur and Yerevan

UAE’s Etihad Airways plans to launch three new destinations next year, as the carrier aims to add more than 30 new routes by 2020.

The Colosseum sits in Rome's city centre. Etihad's new route will make travel to the Italian capital easier. Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Etihad Airways plans to launch three new destinations next year, as the carrier aims to add more than 30 new routes by 2020.

The airline said that starting in 2014, it will add daily flights to Rome and Jaipur in India, in addition to four flights per week to Yerevan in Armenia.

The airline previously said it would start daily flights next year to Zurich, Perth, Medina and Los Angeles. Etihad will also fly three times per week to Dallas in the US.

“Etihad, like Qatar Airways, is putting more attention on the US, following Emirates’ lead,” said Will Horton, an analyst at Capa Centre for Aviation.

The eight new routes will increase Etihad’s network to 102 destinations next year.

Etihad is expecting 20 aircraft deliveries in 2014, which will include 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus A380s.

At November’s Dubai Airshow, Etihad announced 199 new orders from Boeing and Airbus, meaning that it now has 285 planes on order and 72 in service.

Mr Horton of Capa said that the new long-haul routes will be supported by partners, especially with American Airlines in Dallas, Etihad Regional in Zurich and Alitalia in Rome.

“The Rome flight will be especially relevant if a closer partnership with Alitalia is forged,” he said.

Etihad already owns stakes in Air Seychelles, Air Berlin, Virgin Australia, Air Serbia, Ireland’s Aer Lingus and India’s Jet Airways.

“The airline is headed for a third year of profitability – and you can see with such expansion that it’s making money – you can’t blame Etihad for wanting to grow. It has massive potential and we’re seeing that realised through its aggressive growth plans,” said Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StrategicAero Research.