Etihad\\\'s 33.3 pc stake in Darwin Air okayed

Switzerland's Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) has approved Etihad Airway's 33.3 per cent investment in the Swiss regional carrier Darwin Airline, says a press release in Dhaka yesterday.
Since January, 2014, Lugano-based Darwin Airline has operated as Etihad Regional under a brand and partnership agreement with Etihad Airways. FOCA's approval of the Etihad Airways investment now enables the two companies to leverage fully the benefits of their partnership, including codesharing on each other's flights within and beyond Europe.
James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said the investment was in line with the growing trend of consolidation in the airline industry, to ensure the continuation of viable, reliable and stable air services, and to maximise flight connectivity.
Mr Hogan also said that the approval of the investment would enable Etihad Airways and Darwin Airline to work together more closely for the benefit of air travellers in Switzerland, across Europe, and beyond.
Etihad Airways, an Abu Dhabi-based international airline, began operations in 2003, and in 2014 carried 14.8 million passengers. It flies from Abu Dhabi to 111 existing or announced passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. The airline has a fleet of 111 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and more than 200 aircraft on firm order, including 69 Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777-X, 62 Airbus A350s and nine Airbus A380s.
Etihad Airways holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Aer Lingus, Alitalia, Jet Airways and Virgin Australia.