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Etihad Airways will offer air travellers a greater choice of flights and improved connections as part of its winter 2009 / 2010 schedule, with a new service to Hyderabad in India and additional services to Athens, Istanbul, Beirut, Cairo, and Kathmandu among the highlights.
The new winter flying programme starts on Sunday 25 October and by January 2010, will be almost 15 per cent larger than the same period last year with 950 flights planned to operate each week. The new flights to Hyderabad from November 2009 will join Chicago and Cape Town as the airline's newest routes.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways' chief executive, said: "The winter programme for 2009 / 2010 demonstrates our commitment to provide greater depth to the Etihad Airways global flight network. The increased frequencies will provide air travellers with a greater choice of flights into and out of Abu Dhabi and better connectivity with the rest of our network."

Etihad Airways will take delivery of three brand new A320 aircraft during the winter period which will support the frequency increases to short and medium haul destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Mr Hogan added: "Etihad's fleet growth is an integral part of the airline's network expansion and the new narrow-body A320 planes, which will be delivered during the winter, will be put to good use."

Among the highlights of the schedule are increased flights to Etihad's new Mediterranean destinations of Athens and Istanbul. Flights to the Greek capital will rise from three per week to five from 1 November and then daily from 1 January 2010.

Istanbul flights will increase from four flights a week to five from 1 November. The additional flights will provide more choice for people travelling to and from Abu Dhabi and a greater number of weekly connections to Melbourne and Sydney.

Etihad's network across the Middle East and North Africa region will be strengthened with increased services from Abu Dhabi to Beirut, from 14 to 18 flights a week, and Cairo, from seven to 10 a week, starting on 1 January 2010.

The airline's Asian flying programme will be boosted with an increased number of flights to Kathmandu from four per week to a daily service, in a move aimed at providing greater flight options to European air travellers.