Etihad Airways to launch Melbourne?

[soorox]

I was going pass Tullarmarine Freeway and noticed an Etihad Airways add near DFO and the add said "Melbourne this is for You!", "Launching Abu Dhabi and Beyond" which i thought was kind of weird due to the fact that I thought that they have said "Melbourne is well served by Emirates" but have found some recent news that they have thrown a party at Tullarmarine planing to 'touch down' to Melbourne. Good News!

 

[Travel Guru]

I fail to see why a second rate airline like Etihad flying out of Melbourne offers anything resembling good news??

TG

 

[Keith009]

I fail to see why a second rate airline like Etihad flying out of Melbourne offers anything resembling good news??

TG

More choice + competition = lower pricing on the first rate carriers perhaps?

 

[NYCguy]

... A second rate airline like Etihad...

That's very generous of you, TG! From what I've heard, they are at least 3rd rate.

 

[NM]

More choice + competition = lower pricing on the first rate carriers perhaps?

And can mean lower standards on the first rate carriers in order to compete with the others :evil:. Lower prices are not always conducive to improving service standards.

 

[MelUser]

Is Etihad part of any airline alliances or a points earning partner with anybody local?

 

[maninblack]

In MEL we all just get excited about any new international service especially as QF barely flies here

Years ago there was talk that El Al were going to fly here. It would be good to have an Israeli airline to balance out the Muslim and Christian ones, in the spirit of multi-culturism. I had heard we were going to get Air India, so we would have a Hindu one. I would like to see LY do MEL-BOM-TLV. That would be a good service, highly unlikely though :!:

 

[ANstar]

Apparently they will announce the AUH-MEL flights next week.

In the meantime EK will be going 3 x daily into MEL with another A340-500 from early 09

 

[Travel Guru]

That's very generous of you, TG! From what I've heard, they are at least 3rd rate.

Well I didn't want to sound too critical, not that they don't deserve it....I mean, you'd get better customer service from an ATM than you would from an ETIHAD employee.

But if thats how they're happy to run their business, go for it.

Any I agree NM, more competition isn't always a good thing, I for one am not prepared to compromise the level of service I receive just to save a few dollars, though I appreciate others aren't as fortunate.

TG

 

[Saab34]

Announcement Monday

 

[clifford]

I wouldn't book a flight on Etihad unless they were the only option and I was deperate. This also applies to other oil rich Middle-Eastern airlines. The service ethic is not prevalent in the culture, as far as I am concerned.

And I've flown a few of them to such places as Riyadh, so I think I have a basic idea of what's what.

 

[Saab34]

I wouldn't book a flight on Etihad unless they were the only option and I was deperate. This also applies to other oil rich Middle-Eastern airlines. The service ethic is not prevalent in the culture, as far as I am concerned.

And I've flown a few of them to such places as Riyadh, so I think I have a basic idea of what's what.

They are quite overpriced also

 

[Travel Guru]

They are quite overpriced also

I wouldn't say they're overpriced, you have to remember that EK and EY both include their fuel surcharges in their fare, which at first glance makes them look high, but when you realize there's only $100+ dollars in taxes to add to it, instead of up to $1200 with airlines like MH or JL, their price is fairly average.

TG

 

[aspro2]

I wouldn't book a flight on Etihad unless they were the only option and I was deperate. This also applies to other oil rich Middle-Eastern airlines. The service ethic is not prevalent in the culture, as far as I am concerned.

Yes, lots of comments elsewhere about Qatar Airways back this up (Doha call centre and ground staff). In the air, the experience was good, however. Haven't done Etihad though -- and i won't hurry to

 

[sr81]

Looks like it is confirmed.

Etihad Airways to fly to Melbourne - News - Travel - theage.com.au

 

[browski]

The uninformed comments on this thread should not go unanswered.

Most comments are just plain silly.

It is widely acknowledged that many Middle Eastern Airlines
(Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways) are streets ahead in service (and price) of anything we have here in Australia. Qantas does not come close to EK.

Secondly, (to Clifford), what type of ignorant comment is this: "This also applies to other oil rich Middle-Eastern airlines. The service ethic is not prevalent in the culture, as far as I am concerned."

As you well know, most of these airlines are staffed (and managed) by almost 90% foreigners. It is not like you will have an Emiratee hostess on EK or a Qatari steward on Qatar Airways. Most likely they will be South African, Chinese, Irish or Aussies.

Finally, Qantas by choice or spite do not fly anywhere even close to the Middle East. You guys say more competition is not always good - well there is NO competition on direct flights to the Gulf - NONE - only EK. So if another carrier can apply a bit of competition to EK and keep them a little bit honest then who would not be for that.

Grow up people.

 

[soorox]

I am the topic poster of this thread, Soorox

And i would like to thankyou for everyone who has posted into this thread!
Now i would like to offcially confirm that Etihad Airways is launching Melbourne direct services to Adu Dhabi in March next year! using their A340 Aircraft.

 

[oz_mark]

Article in the herald-sun about Etihad flying to MEL
Etihad Airways to fly to Melbourne | Herald Sun

 

[Travel Guru]

The uninformed comments on this thread should not go unanswered.

Most comments are just plain silly.

It is widely acknowledged that many Middle Eastern Airlines
(Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways) are streets ahead in service (and price) of anything we have here in Australia. Qantas does not come close to EK.

Secondly, (to Clifford), what type of ignorant comment is this: "This also applies to other oil rich Middle-Eastern airlines. The service ethic is not prevalent in the culture, as far as I am concerned."

As you well know, most of these airlines are staffed (and managed) by almost 90% foreigners. It is not like you will have an Emiratee hostess on EK or a Qatari steward on Qatar Airways. Most likely they will be South African, Chinese, Irish or Aussies.

Finally, Qantas by choice or spite do not fly anywhere even close to the Middle East. You guys say more competition is not always good - well there is NO competition on direct flights to the Gulf - NONE - only EK. So if another carrier can apply a bit of competition to EK and keep them a little bit honest then who would not be for that.

Grow up people.

Personally, I don't find my numerous comments on this post uninformed or silly, though I do find your tone rather condescending.

Etihad is, a second rate airline, there's no two way about it, they've proved themselves to be that way despite their slick advertising campaigns through their poor and downright rude customer service right through the organisation time and time again.

It's not silly to state it, its a fact.

As for why Qantas doesnt fly to the middle east, that's anyones guess, but given you have a plethora of choices in SQ, MH etc etc, and they currently have a shortage of planes, it's not surprising they choose to utilise those planes on routes where maximum profit can be obtained, that's business.

TG

 

[NYCguy]

Etihad is, a second rate airline, there's no two way about it, they've proved themselves to be that way despite their slick advertising campaigns through their poor and downright rude customer service right through the organisation time and time again.

It's when things go awry that an airline shows it's true colors. Cop a cancelled flight or a missed connection on EK, EY, etc and you're suddenly transported back in time to a bazaar in ancient Arabia, where he who screams loudest and pushes hardest gets rebooked first, irrespective of what they paid for their ticket. And that's if the counter-staff actually stay and face the crowd, rather than deserting the counter because it's all too difficult to deal with. This scenario actually happened to a first class passenger known to me, who was transiting DXB on a trip from JFK to SYD. On arrival at SYD, they cancelled the return sector, and flew back to JFK with QF. Needless to say, it's no more middle-eastern airlines for them. It's all well and good to be dazzled by big seats and expensive wine, but try being marooned airside at DXB with no-one willing to help, and see if you still think the service is great...