Air Transport

Middle Eastern carrier Etihad Airways is to open its first Japanese services early next year, with connections to Tokyo and Nagoya.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline will operate five-times weekly to Tokyo Narita from 27 March, using three-class Airbus A330s.

But it will begin Japanese service with an onward connection to Nagoya from Beijing from 1 February.

The Nagoya link will initially operate four times per week but increase to five from 27 March. Etihad will use two-class A330s on this route.

Etihad, which obtained Japanese route rights at the end of last year, says both routes are subject to final regulatory clearance.