Etihad Airways launched daily non-stop flights between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Phuket (HKT) on 26 October. The inaugural flight EY430 operated on an Airbus A330-200 aircraft took off from Abu Dhabi International Airport at 8.40am local time and arrived 6pm at Phuket International Airport where it received a water cannon salute.
The aircraft has a configuration of 22 Business Class seats and 240 Economy Class seats.
Phuket is Etihad Airways’ second Thai destination after Bangkok. Phuket is also one of the airline’s 10 new routes launched or to be launched this year.
EY430 departs AUH 8.40am and arrives in HKT 6pm. The return flight EY431 departs HKT at 8.25pm and arrives at AUH at 12.25am the next day.
Etihad Airways has also appointed Mr. Dimitrios Karagkioules as the General Manager for Thailand. Mr. Karagkioules has over 20 years of airline experience. Prior to his new appointment, he spent five years in Athens as Etihad Airways General Manager for Greece. Mr. Karagkioules held a number of Athens-based sales and marketing management roles at Continental Airlines and Delta Airlines prior to joining Etihad Airways. Mr. Karagkioules reports to Craig Thomas, Etihad Airways Vice President for Asia Pacific North and the Indian Sub-Continent who is also based in Bangkok.
