Etihad holds reception ahead of inaugural Moscow flight

Abu Dhabi: Excitement continues to build ahead of the launch of Etihad Airways' flights to Moscow, with the airline hosting a Russian-themed reception in the UAE's capital city on Monday night.

Members of the UAE's Russian business community, and senior Etihad management and staff attended the special reception, held at the Shangri-La Qaryat Al Bery.

Etihad Airways will launch flights on December 1 to the Russian capital city of Moscow from its Abu Dhabi home base.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways' chief executive, said: "The Russian capital city is the latest addition to our network of major business and leisure destinations providing crucial links between Abu Dhabi and the world on one of the youngest aircraft fleets in the aviation industry."

Moscow, with a population of more than 10 million people, will become the first destination in Russia to be served by the national airline of the United Arab Emirates with non-stop flights five times a week.

Etihad will operate to Moscow on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays a two-class Airbus A319 configured to carry 104 passengers with 20 seats in business class and 84 in economy class.

On Thursdays, an Airbus A320 configured to carry 140 passengers with 20 seats in business and 120 in economy will operate the service.

Flight EY069 will depart Abu Dhabi Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays at 9:40am and arrive at Moscow's Domodedovo international airport at 2:05pm the same day.

Return flight EY068 will depart Moscow on the same days at 2:55pm, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 9:05pm.