Etihad starts service between Abu Dhabi-Shanghai

Dubai: Etihad Airways on Thursday commenced service between Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, China's financial capital.

The airline will operate five weekly flights to Pudong, Shanghai's international airport, but plans to expand to a daily schedule from April 15.

"(This) brings the capital of the UAE and the commercial and financial centre of mainland China closer together and creates new opportunities for government, trade, tourism and cultural exchange," said James Hogan, president of Etihad.

"Shanghai is today the most populous city in China with an estimated 23 million inhabitants and is a powerhouse economy with a total GDP in excess of US$256.3 billion."