São Paulo – Etihad Airways has not yet started flying to São Paulo, but is already considering expanding its presence in South America starting in 2013, said on Friday (14), the company CEO, James Hogan, during the event in which the company officially announced that it will fly between Abu Dhabi and São Paulo starting on June 1st next year. He also said that the company should not reduce its ticket prices much to compete with the other airlines that fly to the Middle East.
The airline is already negotiating partnerships with other airlines established in South America. Apart from that, said Hogan, the airline also aims to fly to other cities in Latin America. "We have other cities in the region in sight, but it is necessary to guarantee full aircraft", said the CEO. Hogan said that São Paulo was chosen for the start of operations in South America as it has conditions to guarantee flights with a large volume of passengers and luggage.
"We eyed all sectors [of the economy] and São Paulo has the best figures [in these sectors]. We want to fill aircraft with cargo and passengers and this city offers us the chance to reach our target,” said Hogan. He stated that the company is investing "millions" in this route and that three years are necessary for this investment to generate financial return to the company. Etihad hopes for the flight between Abu Dhabi and São Paulo to have an average occupation rate of between 78% and 80%.
The company from Abu Dhabi has been authorised to fly to Brazil since 2010, but has only now got to the country, said Hogan, as the company, established 9 years ago, first needed to establish itself in the Middle East, then in Australia, Asia, Europe and Americas. This expansion is also related to the company’s fleet expansion. Today the company has 67 aircraft. The target is to reach 156 by 2020.
To Brazil, the company should fly the Airbus A340-600. The double aisle aircraft should have 12 seats in the first class, 32 in executive and 248 in economy class. There will be 4,088 seats a week, as well as space to transport approximately 100 tonnes of cargo a week to South America. The flight headed to São Paulo should leave Abu Dhabi at 9:45 am and should land in Cumbica airport at 5:55 pm. The duration of the flight is estimated at 15 hours. The flight from São Paulo, in turn, should leave the city at 12:35 am and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 8:20 pm, local time, taking approximately 14 hours.
The company stated that ticket price is a "balance" between quality and offer and that it bets on its services to win passengers. “Our research shows that passengers repeat their experience of flying with us,” said Hogan. According to the vice president at Etihad for South America and to the general manager for Brazil, Juan Torres, the company site in Portuguese should start operating in late February. The local operation, said Torres, should have around 20 employees. They will join other Brazilians who already work as stewards and pilots at Etihad.
*Translated by Mark Ament
