Etihad Airways has agreed to take a one-third equity stake
in Switzerland-based regional carrier Darwin Airline, and plans to partner with
the airline to operate cobranded flights to a number of secondary European cities
under the new "Etihad Regional" brand, the carrier announced.
In conjunction, Etihad plans to launch on June 1, 2014, Abu
Dhabi-Zurich service. Zurich "will become one of Darwin Airline’s main
operating hubs," in addition to its primary Geneva hub.
Pending regulatory approval of the stake, Etihad will use the
Darwin Airline network "to connect passengers from secondary European
markets onto the main networks of Etihad Airways and its equity alliance partners."
Equity partners set to codeshare with Darwin include Airberlin and Air Serbia, whose hubs also will be linked
into "the new Etihad Regional network." Etihad's 49 percent take in
Air Serbia is expected to close early next year.
Etihad president and CEO James Hogan called the move "a
step-change for Etihad Airways. With our new partner Darwin Airline, we are
creating a unique approach to network development for global airlines."
Headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, Darwin serves 21
destinations with a fleet of 10 50-seat Saab turboprops. Etihad indicated
Darwin "will continue to focus on secondary markets," and, with
Etihad support, a major expansion is planned.
Etihad expects Darwin to add "21 new routes and 18 new
destinations" by mid-2014. "Its network will then include six
European gateways served by Etihad Airways," including Geneva, Amsterdam,
Paris, Düsseldorf and Belgrade, home of Air Serbia.
Etihad noted a new Etihad Regional logo "will be
displayed prominently on each side of the fuselage of the Darwin Airline
aircraft, while the rear of the plane will carry the words 'Operated by Darwin
Airline.' " Once the transaction is complete, Darwin also is expected to
adopt the Etihad Guest frequent flyer program.
Darwin in April 2014 is expected to launch nine new routes: Düsseldorf-Berlin,
Cambridge-London City, Berlin-Poznan, Berlin-Wroclaw, Geneva-Toulouse, Zurich-Leipzig,
Rome-Tirana and Rome-Zagreb. The carrier in May plans to launch Zurich-Geneva, Zurich-Florence,
Zurich-Turin and Geneva-Belgrade service. June is expected to bring new flights
from Zurich to Linz, Graz, Verona and Lyon as well as between Geneva and
Bordeaux, Marseille, Nantes and Verona.