Middle Eastern Airline to Fly New Service To, From LAX

Los Angeles will become the fourth U.S. destination of Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, following Chicago, New York City and Washington D.C.

The new flights will increase Etihad Airways' operations in the U.S. by 33 percent and will cater to growing leisure and business traffic demands in Los Angeles, according to James Hogan, Etihad Airways' president and chief executive officer.

"The expansion of the U.S. network also will be of considerable benefit to the growing commercial and cultural ties between the U.S. and UAE, with trade between the two countries set to increase beyond the current annual level of $22.5 billion," Hogan said in making the announcement of the flights in Los Angeles.

"The new service will also offer maximum connectivity, via Abu Dhabi, with 25 Etihad Airways destinations across the Middle East region and Indian Subcontinent, 12 of which are in India, catering to the demand from Los Angeles' diverse and multicultural population."

Etihad Airways will use a three-cabin, ultra-long range Boeing 777-200LR on the Los Angeles route. The aircraft will be configured to carry 237 passengers, with eight first class suites, 40 business class flatbed seats, and 189 economy class seats, Hogan said.

Flight EY171 will depart daily from Abu Dhabi International Airport at 8:45 a.m. and arrive in Los Angeles at 2:15 p.m. The return flight, EY170, will the depart Los Angeles at 4:15 p.m. and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 7:35 p.m. the following day.