Etihad Airways has introduced a complimentary new luxury chauffeur service for its premium customers travelling to and from Geneva airport in Switzerland.

All the airline’s first and business class customers are eligible for the Etihad Chauffeur service for up to 60 kilometres radius to and from Geneva airport. This is in continuation of Etihad's efforts to enhance the experience it offers customers on the ground, said an airline official.

The airline has selected the 'Mercedes S' series for first class customers and the 'Mercedes E' series for business class customers.

Geert Boven, Etihad Airways’ executive vice president sales and services, said: “Etihad has established a reputation for providing the very highest standards of hospitality and Etihad Chauffeur is a further example of our service quality.'

“We believe that the experience our customers have on the ground is just as important as the one they experience with us in the air. Travelling to and from the airport often can sometimes leave passengers feeling pressured, something the new chauffeur service totally eliminates,” he noted.

Etihad has chosen Elite Rent-a-Car, one of Switzerland’s prominent chauffeured transportation companies, to provide the new service.

Customers flying into Geneva from Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways will be met at the 'arrival' area and escorted to their limousine by their chauffeur, ensuring little time is wasted at the airport.
 
The Etihad Chauffeur service is available also to the airline’s premium customers at Abu Dhabi, London Heathrow, Manchester, Dublin, Bangkok, New York, Munich, Frankfurt, Paris, Sydney and Toronto, with more destinations to be added during 2008 and 2009.

Etihad flies to Geneva four times per week. Flight EY53 departs on Tuesdays and Saturdays from Abu Dhabi at 2:20 am, and arrives in Geneva at 7:10 am the same day.  Return flight EY54 departs from Geneva on the same days at 11:10 am, and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 7:25 pm the same day.

Two additional flights take place on Thursdays and Fridays. Flight EY51 departs from the UAE capital at 2:35 pm, and arrives in Geneva at 7:25 pm the same day. The return flight, EY52 departs from Geneva on Thursdays and Fridays at 9:50 pm, and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 6:05 am the following day.-TradeArabia News Service