Etihad Regional has launched a twice-weekly service between Geneva and Toulouse.
The route is currently operated by a 50-seat Saab 2000 aircraft. From May, the airline will deploy a larger 68-seat ATR 72-500 between the two cities.
The service is the carrier's first year-round route to France from its Swiss base. The airline already operates to Biarritz and Calvi during the summer season and will commence year-round operations to Bordeaux, Lyon and Marseille in May and June.
Inaugural flight F7464 is welcomed with a water cannon salute at Toulouse-Blagnac
Outbound flight F7464 departs Geneva at 1525 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, landing in Toulouse at 1640 local time.
Return service F7465 takes off from Toulouse at 1715 and arrives back in Geneva at 1830 local time.
Maurizio Merlo, Etihad Regional's CEO, said: "We are very excited that we have started this new direct service, linking our Geneva hub with Toulouse.
"The new route is an important milestone in our strategy of expanding operations to key regional cities across Europe and providing travellers with greater choice.
"We are confident it will help boost business and leisure ties at both ends, in addition to flowing traffic on to the services offered by our partner, Etihad Airways."
Eithad Regional operated its first commercial flight, from Geneva to Rome, in late January (see news, January 28).
Graham Smith
