Hogan disclosed that the US specifically is among the highest performing regions across the airline’s global network, with an average 81 per cent load factor in 2012.

On existing routes – New York and Chicago – a significant portion of premium bookings are for travel to/from Abu Dhabi, with 72 percent of First Class passengers and 53 per cent of Business Class passengers starting or ending their journey in Abu Dhabi. 

To date, Etihad Airways has flown nearly 1.5 million passengers to and from the US since commencing services to New York in 2006 and Chicago in 2009. The airline will launch its third US route in on March 31, 2013, with daily flights between Washington, D.C. and daily flights from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. The route will be operated by a three-class Airbus A340-500 aircraft.

Hogan said: “Particularly with increasing ties between the US government and private sector, we see a demand for premium services to Washington, D.C. I am delighted to bring our award-winning Diamond First Class Suites and Pearl Business Class to the route. Through its agreement with American Airlines, in place since September 2009, Etihad Airways will also codeshare on connecting flights between Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles and Dallas-Fort Worth. Etihad Airways currently has 41 codeshare partnerships with airlines around the globe, resulting in a combined network of 327 destinations, more than any other Middle Eastern airline.