Darwin Airline (Lugano and Geneva) and Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) have jointly announced the later has acquired a 33.3 percent interest in the Swiss carrier. Darwin as a result will be rebranded as Etihad Regional and will feed Etihad Airways flights from secondary markets in Europe. Etihad is building an extensive worldwide feeder relationship network with its acquisitions. The two airlines issued this joint statement:
ETIHAD AIRWAYS ANNOUNCES โSTEP-CHANGE IN BUSINESS STRATEGYโ WITH THE LAUNCH OF ETIHAD REGIONAL
- Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has announced a โstep- change in global aviationโ, with the launch of its first branded regional operation, after taking a 33.3 per cent stake in Swiss carrier Darwin Airline.
Following completion of the minority investment, which is subject to regulatory approval, Darwin Airline will rebrand its operations as Etihad Regional and align its network to connect passengers from secondary European markets onto the main networks of Etihad Airways and its equity alliance partners.
Etihad Airways will also launch daily services on June 1st, 2014 from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, which will become one of Darwin Airlineโs main operating hubs.
James Hogan, Etihad Airwaysโ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: โThis is a step- change for Etihad Airways. With our new partner Darwin Airline, we are creating a unique approach to network development for global airlines.
โEuropean travellers will now be able to connect from a far, wider range of European towns and cities on Etihad-branded aircraft, through Abu Dhabi to our destinations worldwide.โ
โWe are also linking the new Etihad Regional network into the key hubs of our equity alliance partners, bringing benefits to the customers of airberlin and Air Serbia.โ
โThis new model is one that can bring the Etihad badge of quality to air travellers around the world,โ he said. โIn just a decade, we have established the Etihad brand as one of the most recognised and most highly regarded in aviation. This model offers a new direction for that brand in future.โ
Darwin Airline is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, with its major hub in Geneva. It currently offers scheduled flights to 21 destinations in Europe using a fleet of ten 50-seat SAAB 2000 turboprop aircrafts.
Subject to regulatory approvals, Etihad Airways will invest in Darwin Airline through the acquisition of 33.3 per cent of an enlarged share capital. Darwin Airline, which will continue to focus on secondary markets, will become the seventh member of the Etihad Airways equity airline alliance, the fourth partner in Europe, and the first to operate using a new sub-brand called โEtihad Regionalโ.
The investment will give Etihad Airways access to regional markets in Europe, and enable a major expansion of Darwin Airlineโs operations.
The new โEtihad Regionalโ logo will be displayed prominently on each side of the fuselage of the Darwin Airline aircrafts, while the rear of the planes will carry the words โOperated by Darwin Airlineโ, and the Darwin Airlineโs present logo, as well as continuing to proudly display the Swiss flag. All flights will continue to be operated under the Darwin Airline designator code.
By mid-2014, Darwin Airline will add 21 new routes and 18 new destinations. Its network will then include six European gateways served by Etihad Airways โ Geneva, Amsterdam, Paris, Dusseldorf, Belgrade and, commencing in June, Zurich.
Darwin Airline will be able to connect to the network of airberlin, Etihad Airwaysโ equity partner, through new and existing routes to Berlin, Dusseldorf and Zurich. Berlin and Dusseldorf provide excellent connections to the US with airberlin.
Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl/AirlinersGallery.com. The company now operates a fleet of 10 SAAB 2000 turboprops. SAAB 2000 HB-IZJ (msn 015) prepares to touch down in Zurich.
Darwin Airline:ย 
Current routes from Geneva:
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