Zurich: Etihad Airways launched a new brand, Etihad Regional, for travellers in Europe, last Thursday in Zurich, Switzerland.

Etihad announced that is was acquiring a 33.3 per cent equity in Switzerland’s Darwin Airlines, which will operate Etihad Regional, last year at the Dubai airshow.

Their code share with Etihad Airways started on January 17.

Etihad Regional offers year-round flights to 15 destinations in Europe using a fleet of 10 Saab 2000 turbotop aircraft.

By mid-2014, the number of destinations will increase to 34.

Etihad Regional’s network will include seven European gateways: Geneva, Amsterdam, Paris, Dusseldorf, Belgrade, Zurich (June 2014) and Rome (July 2014).

“Etihad Regional will provide a unique opportunity to strengthen vitally important regional networks and connect them to the rapidly expanding global network of Etihad Airways,” said James Hogan President and CEO of Etihad Airways.

Defending Etihad Airways’ decision to buy minor equity into regional airlines teetering financially, Hogan said: “As an airline we are not into charity; we have a clear commercial mandate. Everything we touch we have to make good returns. We work behind the scenes on purchasing and procurement of fleet, shared expenses and look at sustainable profitability.

“As a young airline in the region, if we are going to compete with Emirates and Qatar, I can’t match their order books, but partnerships like this help me overcome the barriers of entry and get into India, Europe and Australia.

“With the alliance of Jet Airways, we now have a reach into 26 Indian cities. Together with these seven partnerships Etihad Airways serves nearly 400 destinations with a fleet of more than 500 aircraft. This helps us get a better reach into new regions.

“We are not on a shopping spree for equity stakes but we do have a very clear business plan to build a very strong and active business. We will choose partners, as we have done with Darwin Airlines, which share our passion for delivering an outstanding service to travellers with greater choice and more convenience.”

Maurizio Merlo, the chief executive officer of Darwin Airlines and Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer of Etihad Airways shared the dais with James Hogan and together revealed the first aircraft to feature in Etihad Regional’s branding — a 50-seat Saab 2000 with new cabin interior and cabin crew attired in new uniforms. The new livery will adorn all 10 aircraft of Etihad Regional by the end of June 2014.

Etihad Airways’ minority shareholdings also include: 29 per cent of airberlin; 40 per cent of Air Seychelles, 19.9 per cent of Virgin Australia, 3 per cent of Aer Lingus, 49 per cent of Air Serbia and 24 per cent of Jet Airways.

Hogan said the Jet airways partnership will help increase their access in India.

“We are now flying to 26 new Indian cities and that helps widen our base in India. From March beginning this year the Abu Dhabi-New York flight will be introduced where Etihad Airways will operate the flight in March and April and then Jet Airways will take over from May. It will give Indian travellers a new one stop link to the US and also gives us access to the India traffic to the US.”