Etihad Airways will launch a new daily service to San Francisco on Tuesday 18 November 2014, providing an important air bridge between New Delhi and the Californian city.
San Francisco is set to become one of Etihad Airways’ most popular destinations from New Delhi due to the Bay Area’s significant Indian community, which currently stands at more than 250,000, and is the second largest in the United States.
The new service will also enhance the growing trade and commercial ties with India, particularly in the technology industry, with seven of out the top 10 social media companies, including facebook, YouTube, twitter and LinkedIn, based in the Bay Area.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “Etihad Airways is renowned for its growing global flight network which provides an important link to Indian communities around the world, especially those living in the United States.
“This new service will benefit business and leisure passengers flying from New Delhi to San Francisco as the flight schedule will offer the most convenient transfer times as well as Etihad Airways’ world class service and product.”
Etihad Airways will operate a three cabin Boeing 777-300ER between San Francisco and New Delhi.
The aircraft will be leased from Etihad Airways’ strategic partner Jet Airways and will be configured to carry 346 passengers, with eight in First Class, 30 in Business Class and 308 in Economy Class.
San Francisco is the latest addition to Etihad Airways’ US network. The airline currently offers double-daily flights to New York and daily flights to Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C.
The San Francisco service will be followed a month later by the commencement of flights to Dallas / Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport from 3 December 2014.
San Francisco is the tenth route launch to be announced by Etihad Airways for 2014. New services have already commenced to Medina (1 February), Jaipur (1 April), Los Angeles (1 June), Zurich (1 June) and Yerevan (2 July), and will be followed by flights to Rome (15 July), Perth (15 July), Phuket (26 October), San Francisco (18 November) and Dallas (3 December).
Etihad Airways schedule for New Delhi to San Francisco, effective 18 November 2014:
| Flight No. | Origin | Depart | Destination | Arrive | Frequency | Aircraft |
| EY223 | New Delhi (DEL) | 21.20 | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | 23.35 | Daily | B777-300ER |
| EY183 | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | 02:15 | San Francisco (SFO) | 06:30 | Daily | B777-300ER |
Etihad Airways schedule for San Francisco to New Delhi:
| Flight No. | Origin | Depart | Destination | Arrive | Frequency | Aircraft | |
| EY182 | San Francisco (SFO) | 08:30 | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | 12:40 | Daily | B777-300ER | |
| EY224 | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | 15.30 | New Delhi (DEL) | 20.30 | Daily | B777-300ER | |
Note: All departures and arrivals are listed in local time
Etihad Airways’ flights to and from San Francisco can be booked from today onwards on www.etihad.com, through Etihad Airways Contact Centres, or via travel agents.
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways began operations in 2003, and in 2013 carried 11.5 million passengers. From its Abu Dhabi base Etihad Airways flies to 108 existing or announced passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. The airline has a fleet of 102 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and more than 210 aircraft on firm order, including 71 Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777-X, 62 Airbus A350s and 10 Airbus A380s. Etihad Airways holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia, Aer Lingus, Air Serbia and Jet Airways, and is in the process of formalising its equity investment in Swiss-based Etihad Regional*. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com
*Operated by Darwin Airline