Etihad Airways keen to expand its network in the U.S.

United Arab Emirates’ national flag carrier Etihad Airways wants to further expand its network in the United States, media reports quoted James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of the airline as saying.

Hogan said that the U.S. is particularly among the highest-performing regions across the airline’s global network, and he is eager to see Etihad Airways flights network being further expanded in the country.

Hogan disclosed that Etihad Airways had an average 81 percent load factor in 2012. He said that a significant portion of premium bookings for travel to/from Abu Dhabi from New York and Chicago had been reported.

According to Hogan, 72 percent customers booked Etihad Airways flights tickets in the First Class, while 53 percent customers booked their seats in Business Class to/from Abu Dhabi. 
 
Etihad Airways has so far carried nearly 1.5 million passengers to and from the United States ever since the airline launched its flights services to New York in 2006 as well as Chicago in 2009.