Etihad launches $54 return flights to Heathrow

Etihad Airways is offering UAE travellers bargain basement prices - such as AED200 ($54) flights to London Heathrow - following the launch of a new online sales promotion.

A range of special e-Deals will feature on the airline’s website every Monday and Tuesday and offer residents of the UAE during that 48 hour period access to Etihad’s very lowest air fares.

The new e-Deals – available only on the website - cover a selection of cities each week from across the airline’s global network and include short-breaks around the region as well as holiday destinations further a field such as Johannesburg, Melbourne and New York.

This week’s e-Deals include return economy fares from Abu Dhabi to: Bahrain, Damascus, Beirut and Cairo from AED40; New Delhi from AED100; and London Heathrow, Manchester, Munich and Casablanca from AED200. Booking must be made between Monday May 4-5 and travel completed by Monday May 18.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ chief commercial officer, said: “Part of the excitement of booking a last minute break is that you don’t always know exactly where you are going to end up until shortly before you travel.

“All we’re prepared to say in advance about this special getaway promotion is that people will have access to some incredible getaway deals, but to find out where to and for how much, they’ll have to keep visiting the website every Monday.”

The move comes as analysts claim Middle East airlines are struggling to fill seats as travellers hit with the credit crunch look to save cash by not flying.

Bill McKnight, associate director of consulting firm AT Kearney, said business and leisure travellers were thinking twice before booking flights.

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