Etihad to suspend flights from Abu Dhabi to Perth, Australia and Edinburgh, Scotland

Etihad Airways will stop all flights from Abu Dhabi to Perth and Edinburgh effective late 2018, years after the West Australia and Scotland routes were launched, it has been announced. The carrier said it has decided that effective October 1, 2018, it will suspend daily services on the two destinations, as part of an ongoing review of its operations. Tourist numbers in Western Australia have reportedly been on a decline. In an advisory for its customers, Etihad said it is dropping the Perth and Edinburgh routes, as part of an ongoing review of network performance. “[The route cancellation} is one of several adjustments that we are making to our network in 2018 in order to improve system profitability.” The airline, however, pointed out that it remains committed to serve destinations in Australia and the United Kingdom, as it continues to operate flights from Abu Dhabi to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, London Heathrow and Manchester, considered to be major markets for the company. Etihad’s first service to Perth kicked off in July 2014, while the Edinburgh route was launched in June 2015.<br/>