Etihad Airways Launches Regional Airline in Switzerland

Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national carrier, launched a new airline called Etihad Regional based in Zurich, Switzerland. Etihad says the new airline will usher in “a new era of improved regional and international connections for travelers in Europe.”

The new airline will be operated by Darwin Airline, which is based in Lugano, Switzerland, and maintains a hub in Geneva. Under terms of a deal signed but now awaiting regulatory approval, Etihad will acquire a 33.3 percent stake in Darwin Airline.

Etihad Regional is rolling out with year-round flights to 15 destinations in Europe using a fleet of 10 Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft. The airline hopes to build that to 34 destinations by mid-year. The addition builds Etihad’s regional network in Europe to seven gateways: Geneva, Amsterdam, Paris, Düsseldorf, Belgrade, Zurich (starting in June) and Rome (July).

Etihad Regional will begin with a fleet of 10 aircraft, which will all display the new branding by June. Etihad presented the first aircraft that displays the Etihad Regional brand, a 50-seat Saab 2000, to a media conference assembled at Zurich Airport. The new aircraft was presented along with its interiors and crew uniforms next to an Etihad Airways Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

The new business venture is one more piece of Etihad’s unfolding strategy of building its network through forging partnerships with regional carriers around the world. Darwin is the seventh partner airline in what Etihad calls its equity airline alliance and the fourth based in Europe.

Etihad Airways’ minority shareholdings include 29 percent of airberlin, 40 percent of Air Seychelles, 19.9 percent of Virgin Australia, 3 percent of Aer Lingus and 24 percent of India’s Jet Airways. The airline is set to acquire 49 percent of Air Serbia this month. The equity alliance serves a total of nearly 400 destinations.

Etihad Airways began operations in 2003, and in 2013 carried nearly 12 million passengers. Its hub is Abu Dhabi, UAE.