UAE's Etihad Airways has launched a fourth daily non-stop service between Kozhikode and its Abu Dhabi hub to mark the 10th anniversary of its operations to the southern Indian state of Kerala, said a report.

The extra capacity takes to 63 the total number of weekly services between Abu Dhabi and its three Kerala gateways of Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram. This represents over 30 per cent of Etihad Airways’ frequencies from across 11 Indian cities it serves, said a report in WAM.

Since Etihad Airways’ first flight to Kerala on May 31, 2007, the airline has flown almost 3.5 million guests to and from the state.

The current capacity includes four flights a day to Kozhikode; thrice-daily to Kochi and double daily to Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala flights are operated with a mix of Airbus 320 and A321 aircraft featuring up to 16 seats in Business Class and 158 in Economy.

In addition, strategic Indian partner Jet Airways operates seven flights a week from Kochi to Abu Dhabi. The services largely cater to the huge expatriate population from all three Kerala cities and the surrounding areas, living and working in the Gulf region, the report said.

Addressing media at a briefing in Thiruvananthapuram today, Neerja Bhatia, Etihad Airways Vice President Indian Subcontinent, said, "With our multi-frequency scheduled flights to and from Kerala, Etihad Airways has demonstrated a commitment to this vibrant state by offering convenient global access and boosting the domestic tourism industry.

"We have been able to bring the world closer to this beautiful state and connect the people of Kerala to destinations in the Gulf, including our Abu Dhabi home, which has also been the base for thriving ventures by Kerala business houses. Reaching a 10-year milestone is fitting tribute to the support Etihad Airways has received from the state government of Kerala in making our operations a success."