Lugano, Switzerland, 2014-04-2 — /Travel PR News/ — Etihad Regional today marked the start of direct daily services between Zurich, Switzerland and Leipzig/Halle, Germany.
Flight F7251 touched down at Leipzig/Halle airport at 12:20pm local time and the newly branded 50-seat Saab 2000 aircraft was greeted by a traditional water cannon salute.
This is Etihad Regional’s second route launch to Germany from Switzerland, following the start of a Geneva-Stuttgart operation in February. The airline operates already from Leipzig to Amsterdam and Paris.
Maurizio Merlo, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Regional said: “It is a great honour for us to link these two important European cities, and even more so with a daily connection.
“Our service will no doubt enhance the already strong commercial and leisure ties between Switzerland and Germany, while at the same time extending Etihad Regional’s geographic presence in the German market. It is good news for business and leisure travellers alike, as it is for the cities of Leipzig and Zurich.”
Peter Baumgartner, Vice Chairman designate of Etihad Regional said: “Importantly, the new service demonstrates Etihad Regional’s strategy to continue building a strong regional network linking European cities and towns, which also connect to the global network of our partners, including Etihad Airways and airberlin.
“For Etihad Regional, as for the Etihad brand as a whole, providing a remarkable guest experience is one of the core elements of our proposition. What our guests expect is that we put them first. Put them first with our product, our service and our network, and that’s what we are doing.”
Markus Kopp, Chief Executive Officer of Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG, the parent company of Leipzig airport, said: “It’s great to be able to launch a third European service from Leipzig/Halle in conjunction with our airline partner – Etihad Regional.
“We believe demand for the new service will be high both in our region and in the airline’s Zurich catchment area, and it will also be attractive for travellers coming to Leipzig from further afield.”
Beyond linking Leipzig and Zurich, the new flights will also offer travellers a great opportunity to connect onto Etihad Airways, the UAE national carrier’s upcoming services from Zurich to Abu Dhabi.* Flights beyond Abu Dhabi, offered by Etihad Airways and its equity partners, Jet Airways and Virgin Australia connect well with destinations in the Middle East, Indian subcontinent, Asia and Australia.
Arrival photograph caption: The Mayor of Leipzig, the Mayor of Halle, accompanied by representatives from Etihad Regional and Leipzig/Halle Airport mark the start of direct flights from Zurich to Leipzig.
Etihad Regional (F7) Leipzig-Zurich flight schedule
| Flight # | Departs | Arrives | Departure time | Arrival time | Frequency | Aircraft |
| F7250 | LEJ | ZRH | 0635 | 0755 | Daily | Saab 2000 |
| F7251 | ZRH | LEJ | 1050 | 1220 | Daily | Saab 2000 |
All times are local
*Etihad Airways Zurich-Abu Dhabi daily service commences 1 June 2014
About Etihad Regional, Operated by Darwin Airline
Etihad Regional is the new European brand operated by Swiss-based regional carrier, Darwin Airline, founded in 2003. It serves a range of key secondary markets in Europe and offers long-haul and international destinations across Europe, Australia, Asia, Middle East, Africa and the Americas through its future 33.3 per cent shareholding equity and codeshare partner, Etihad Airways. The airline currently operates two-class flights with a fleet of eight 50-seat Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft to a network stretching from southern Italy to the UK. The airline’s major hub is the Swiss city of Geneva. For more information, please visit www.etihadregional.com
For more information contact:
Etihad Regional, operated by Darwin Airline
Massimo Boni
Head of Corporate Communications
Via alla Campagna 2a
6904 Lugano
Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0) 91 612 45 25
Email: massimo.boni@etihadregional.com