Etihad will launch a non-stop daily service to Perth and a three-times weekly service to Dallas next year.
The Perth route is scheduled to start on July 15 and will initially be served by an Airbus A330-200 with 22 seats in business class and 240 in economy. To view a seatplan of this aircraft, click here.
It will place further pressure on the embattled Qantas, bringing to 35 the number of weekly flights run by Etihad and the Virgin Australia alliance between Abu Dhabi and Australia.
Outward flight EY486 will depart Abu Dhabi at 2210 and arrive in Perth at 1310 the following day, while return service EY487 will leave Perth at 1555 and land in Abu Dhabi at 2325.
Etihad chief executive James Hogan said: "Our analysis shows there is a significant business opportunity on the Perth route.
"Overseas visitor numbers are growing at a steady rate of around 7 per cent overall, with several markets to which we fly - such as Germany, France, Italy and Ireland - recording an increase in visitor numbers of between 8.5 per cent and approximately 30 per cent in the 2012/13 financial year.
"Significantly, arrivals from the Middle East grew at more than 104 per cent over the same period."
Etihad's Dallas route is due to launch on December 3 and will be served by a Boeing 777-200LR that can accommodate 237 passengers - eight in Diamond First Class Suites, 40 in Pearl Business Class flatbed seats, and 189 in Coral Economy Class.
Flight EY161 will depart from Abu Dhabi at 0945 every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday and arrive in Dallas at 1630 the same day. The return flight, EY160, will leave Dallas at 1845 on the same day and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 1950 the following day.
Dallas is the largest and most important hub for Etihad's US codeshare partner American Airlines, the Gulf carrier said.
Dallas joins Chicago, New York, Washington, DC and Los Angeles — which is due to launch on June 1 — on the Etihad US flight network.
The Texas addition means the airline will provide 31 return flights each week between the UAE and the US from December 2014.
Tom Otley
