Etihad Airways said Thursday that beginning in a year it will offer three round-trip flights per week between the United Arab Emirates and Dallas, making it the fifth U.S. city served by the Persian Gulf carrier.
The airline plans to use 237-passenger Boeing 777 jets to fly between Dallas and Abu Dhabi. The planes will include eight seats in first class, 40 in business class and 189 in economy.
Like Middle Eastern competitors Emirates and Qatar Airways, Etihad has been expanding service to the United States, raising objections from some U.S. airlines. Qatar announced last week that it will begin daily nonstop flights between Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Doha next July.
"The United States is one of Etihad Airways’ most important global markets and we are delighted to add Dallas, a key US destination and hub, to our flight network," said James Hogan, president and chief executive officer on the airline's Facebook page.
Etihad said that its Dallas flights would begin Dec. 3, 2014, and depart on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The airline expects many passengers to come from the oil and gas industry.
Etihad already flies to New York, Washington and Chicago and plans to add Los Angeles in June.
