Etihad Regional marked the start of a twice-weekly service linking Geneva in Switzerland, and Toulouse in southwestern France.

Flight F7464 touched down at Toulouse-Blagnac airport yesterday at 4:40pm local time and the newly branded 50-seat Saab 2000 aircraft was greeted by a traditional water cannon salute.

This is Etihad Regional's first year-round route to France from its Swiss base. The airline already operates to Biarritz and Calvi during the summer season and will commence year-round operations to Bordeaux, Lyon and Marseille between May and June.

From May, Etihad Regional plans to operate a larger 68-seat ATR 72-500 aircraft on the Geneva-Toulouse route.  From June, the airline will also increase the Geneva-Toulouse services to three flights per week.

Maurizio Merlo, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Regional, said: "We are very excited that we have started this new direct service, linking our Geneva hub with Toulouse.

"The new route is an important milestone in our strategy of expanding operations to key regional cities across Europe and providing travellers with greater choice.

"We are confident it will help boost business and leisure ties at both ends, in addition to flowing traffic on to the services offered by our partner, Etihad Airways."

The new Geneva-Toulouse flights are timed to offer guests seamless connections through Geneva to Abu Dhabi and to cities across the globe.

Jean-Michel Vernhes, President of Toulouse-Blagnac airport, said: "We welcome Etihad Regional to Toulouse and are delighted that the new route not only enhances access to Geneva, but beyond to Abu Dhabi and a whole range of destinations.

"For business and leisure travellers from the Midi-Pyrénées region, this route is important because it will improve connectivity between this part of France and the rest of the world, of which we are very supportive."

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