Etihad Finds Solace in London Demand as Global Network Shrinks - Bloomberg

Etihad Finds Solace in London Demand as Global Network Shrinks - Bloomberg:

Etihad Airways may be cutting routes and slashing jet orders after racking up billions of dollars in losses, but one market at least is providing the Abu Dhabi-based carrier with much-needed growth: the U.K.

Etihad will offer a fourth daily trip to London year-round for the first time after introducing the service in May to tap the usual jump in summer demand. Flights to Heathrow airport will be operated by Boeing Co. 787-9 planes, adding 299 seats to the 1,458 already available on three Airbus SE A380 superjumbos.

The embattled carrier scrapped $21 billion of jet orders in February amid a restructuring that’s seen it cut thousands of jobs and eliminate more than a dozen marginal routes. The move to swell London capacity means the extra daily service will be maintained beyond the planned cutoff point of Oct. 26 -- just days before the new deadline for Britain to quit the European Union.