The inaugural flight of Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, took off for the Netherlands’ capital, Amsterdam.

Flight EY77, carrying the KL code of Dutch national carrier, KLM, departed Abu Dhabi airport on schedule at 9.30am local time today, Wednesday 15 May.

First announced in October 2012, the codeshare agreement partnership covers multiple routes across each other’s networks. 

The daily service between Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam complements KLM’s flights on that route, which carries Etihad Airways’ EY code, the two airlines will offer a combined double daily service from the summer.

The Etihad Airways A330-200 aircraft, configured to carry 262 passengers, 22 in  Business Class and 240 in Economy Class, will be received with water cannon salute by airport's fire engines as it taxis to the gate at Schiphol.


Amsterdam includes  17 European cities that Etihad Airways operates to including Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, London and Paris.