Etihad Airways has launched a joint promotion with Tourism Ireland to boost Chinese visitor numbers into Ireland.

With its maiden flight from Abu Dhabi to Beijing set to take off on March 30, Etihad Airways is already proactive in planning its presence in the Chinese tourism market where it is working to establishing diverse in-market tie-ups that will offer Chinese travelers convenient and easy access to Europe and the Middle East, via its home base of Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Airways is poised to serve Chinese travelers on this Beijing - Abu Dhabi - Dublin flight. Abu Dhabi is a fast growing hub in the Gulf region which benefits from a competitive advantage in terms of its relatively low airport tax compared to its European counterparts. Chinese travelers boarding a connecting flight from Abu Dhabi to Dublin will spend approximately two hours in transit.

Etihad Airways has confirmed partnerships with five tour agencies in Beijing — China Travel Service, China International Travel Service, Beijing Youth Travel Service, CCT and UTS China — for joint promotion on the new Ireland service. The first group of Chinese tourists travelling on Etihad Airways from Beijing to Dublin are expected to depart on April 29.

On March 30, Etihad Airways will begin its four-flights-per-week service between Abu Dhabi and Beijing with a two-class Airbus A330-200 configured to carry 262 passengers.