Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates has launched a new, four flights-a-week service, from Dublin to Abu Dhabi. This will offer Irish air travellers direct access to many popular tourist destinations in the Middle East. The airline’s one-stop connection to Sydney also offers Irish travellers the fastest way to Australia.

Two of the airline’s cabin managers are Helena Holmes and Philip Heavy, pictured above. Helena, who went to school in Sandymount, speaks about her experience of life in the Middle East. “I came to the Middle East with a fair idea of what life would be like. There are highs and lows with moving and having to adapt to a different country and culture, but if you open yourself to new ideas and experiences it can be fruitful. I have found the Arabic culture to be warm and friendly, and as are the Irish, very family orientated.”

A native of Irishtown, Philip joined the airline three years ago. “I joined Etihad because it was a new company and moving to the Middle East gave me the chance to experience something new, to meet different people from around the world and to travel. My goal for the future is to stay in the industry as it’s something I’ve always wanted since I was a kid watching airport and airline programmes on television.”

The Abu Dhabi-based airline will operate an Airbus A330-200 aircraft on the Dublin route with 10 seats in first class, 26 seats in business and 164 seats in economy, with a total passenger capacity of 1,600 seats every week. For more information see www.etihadairways.com