Etihad gears up for Beijing service.(UP front)

Etihad Airways will begin its four-times-a-week service between Abu Dhabi and Beijing from 30 March, marking the airline's first destination in China and the eighth in Asia-Pacific. The route will be served by a two-class Airbus A330-200 configured to carry 262 passengers with 22 in business class and 240 in economy class.

Given the rapid growth of UAE and Chinese economies, the route is likely to attract high corporate traffic, as well as appeal to leisure travellers in the run-up to the Olympics this summer. Flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with EY888 departing from Abu Dhabi at 11.45pm and arriving in the Chinese capital at 11.30am …