Etihad Airways will commence codeshare services to Hong Kong (HK) in February, 2013 in partnership with Air Seychelles, subject to regulatory approval. The three return services per week between Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong will be operated by its equity and codeshare partner, Air Seychelles. The new codeshare supplements Etihad Airways’ expansion in mainland China, following the launch of its first service to Beijing in March 2008, and more recently to Chengdu in December 2011 and Shanghai in March earlier this year, the carrier said in a press release. Etihad Airways President and CEO James Hogan said: “Hong Kong’s fast growing economy and booming middle class have brought a remarkable increase in the number of travelers in recent years. “The new service connects two of the world’s leading international financial and tourism centres, a move we believe will stimulate the growth of commerce and trade between the UAE and China, the UAE’s second largest trading partner.” The flight schedule will provide leisure and business passengers from Hong Kong with seamless connectivity through Etihad Airways’ hub in Abu Dhabi, to key destinations across the GCC and to primary European destinations including the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Ireland. From Gulf Today