São Paulo – Etihad Airways had its best performance in March since it started flying to São Paulo, in June 2013. The Abu Dhabi-based airline’s CEO in Brazil, Christophe Didier, said last month, the average occupancy rate of flights leaving from São Paulo was 75.2%. “It was the first time we had an average occupancy higher than 70%, a sensational performance,” said Didier last Wednesday (9th), during the opening cocktail party for the 2nd Japanese Cuisine Festival at São Paulo’s Intercontinental Hotel, which will continue until April 12th and is sponsored by the airline.
Didier said performance last month was “sensational” because it represents the growth, in Brazil, of the airline and the Etihad brand, which was unknown upon arriving in Brazil. He ascribed the higher occupancy to the exclusive service the company offers its passengers.
“Etihad has been doing great work in Brazil. The flight leaves today at the best time (10:15 pm). It is the best time, because it is what passengers call for. They don’t want to fly early in the morning; they want to leave late in the evening. We have also succeeded in having a daily flight, despite the fact that the Guarulhos Airport handles large numbers of aircraft. In March, we had 75% occupancy, which is excellent considering that we have been operating for roughly eight months,” he said. Still, Didier said the company needs to keep growing and strengthening its brand in the country.
Higher demand during the World Cup
Etihad is expecting passenger demand to be up roughly 20% during the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Didier told ANBA that last Tuesday (8th), the company decided on using a larger aircraft in its flights to Brazil, probably from June to August. The event opens on June 12th and ends on July 13th.
The unit deployed will be an Airbus A340-600, which is a 292-seater, more than the aircraft flying the route connecting São Paulo and the capital of the United Arab Emirates at this time. The Airbus A340-500 currently in use has 240 seats.
This will not be the first time the airline temporarily switches aircraft in Brazil. In July last year, Etihad used a Boeing 777 in some flights during the World Youth Journey, which was attended by Pope Francis.
Etihad started flying to Brazil on June 1st last year, with three weekly flights between São Paulo and Abu Dhabi. Two months later, the flights went daily. Didier took charge of the company in Brazil in January this year, replacing Juan Torres who was allocated to the Philippines. Prior to working at Etihad, Didier spent nine years with Air France and fourteen years with the United States’ Delta Airlines.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
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