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Etihad Airways has put the State of Queensland within easier reach of more international visitors and will give Queenslanders more convenient access to its extensive global network following the launch today of daily non-stop flights between Brisbane and Abu Dhabi.

The new non-stop flights are operated by Etihad Airways’ brand new three-class Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner which features the airline’s ground-breaking next generation First Suite, Business Studio and Economy Smart Seat.

The Dreamliner flights offer First Class on the Brisbane – Abu Dhabi route for the first time ever and will replace the daily one-stop services which the airline previously operated via Singapore with a two-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

Etihad Airways president James Hogan, said the flights were a reflection of Etihad Airways’ enduring commitment to the Queensland travel market and the strong performance of the Brisbane route.

“The commencement of daily non-stop Dreamliner services enables us to offer our strongest ever customer proposition on the Brisbane – Abu Dhabi route and represents a significant investment in the Queensland market.

“By retiming our Brisbane-Abu Dhabi flights with evening departures in both directions and removing the stop in Singapore, we can now offer guests the convenience of shorter travel times and two-way connectivity to more than 30 destinations in the GCC, Middle East, Africa and Europe.

“Our nonstop flights also offer improved connectivity from regional Queensland and guests can now connect seamlessly with Etihad Airways’ evening Brisbane services by flying with partner airline Virgin Australia from 13 towns and cities across the state.”

Hogan highlighted the benefits to the State of Queensland as a result of the upgraded non-stop Brisbane-Abu Dhabi services.

“The commencement of our non-stop flights puts Etihad Airways in a stronger than ever position to attract international travellers to the State of Queensland and to contribute to Queensland’s economic development.

“Our on-going partnership with Virgin Australia – which offers one-stop travel from our Abu Dhabi hub across Virgin Australia’s regional Queensland network – enables us to offer overseas travellers unprecedented access to the State.

“It’s now easier than ever for overseas travellers to explore more of Queensland’s abundant visitor attractions and its diverse landscapes.”

Etihad Airways codeshares on Virgin Australia flights from Brisbane to Bundaberg, Cairns Cloncurry, Emerald, Gladstone, Hamilton Island, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Moranbah, Mount Isa, Proserpine, Rockhampton and Townsville.

Guests who travel with Etihad Airways and Virgin Australia are offered the convenience of a single ticket purchase, through-checked baggage and convenient flight connections.