Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, will provide a new route between Abu Dhabi and Vienna, when it places its EY code on the forthcoming daily service by Niki, an Austrian carrier, and a subsidiary of airberlin.

The new Niki flights start on November 24 and will be operated by a two cabin A320 aircraft, configured to carry 12 passengers in Business Class and 132 in Economy class.

The schedule of the Vienna flights ensures strong two-way connectivity beyond Abu Dhabi to Etihad Airways’ growing network, which suits destinations in Australia, North and South Asia, the Indian sub-continent, Middle East and Africa.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways' president and chief executive officer, said: “Etihad Airways is delighted to add its code to the new daily Niki service to Vienna, connecting Abu Dhabi with one of Europe's leading cultural, economic, and political centres.

“Vienna has been a popular destination for Etihad Airways passengers for several years, connecting to the Austrian capital from cities across our network. To offer a non-stop flight from our hub, working alongside our colleagues at Niki, will cater for this considerable demand.”

Vienna has a population of 2.4 million people within the metropolitan area, which equates to more than 20 per cent of Austria's population and it is the seventh largest city by population within city limits in the European Union.

In addition to being a major year-round tourist destination, Vienna is home to many major international organisations such as the United Nations and Opec. – TradeArabia News Service