Mumbai: The proposed Jet-Etihad Airways alliance will cement the position of Abu Dhabi as a major aviation hub and the Naresh Goyal-owned airline plans to use the Gulf airport to launch new international flights to the US, Europe and cities in West Asia such as Amman, Beirut and Baghad, airline sources said. The airline will use fifth freedom rights under the air service agreement between India and Abu Dhabi to start the new services.
Fifth freedom rights allow airlines to do one-stop flights and pick up passengers from the transit point to its final destination. The agreement between India and Abu Dhabi signed in 2007 gives Indian carriers fifth freedom rights but this was not utilised till now. Jet Airways is launching Kochi-Abu Dhabi-Kuwait flight next month making use of that entitlement.
19/04/13 Aneesh Phadnis/Business Standard
