Etihad will operate a four flights a week service to Nagoya, via Beijing, from Monday, 1 February, increasing to five flights a week from 27 March (subject to regulatory approval).

A five flights a week direct service to Tokyo?s Narita airport commences on Saturday 27 March (subject to regulatory approval).

The addition of Tokyo and Nagoya on Etihad?s flying programme will bring to eight the number of destinations served by Etihad in the Far East, which currently includes Beijing, Jakarta, Manila, Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways chief executive officer, said: ?Rarely does an airline have the opportunity to launch flights to two cities in one country at the same time, so these services to Tokyo and Nagoya are very special for Etihad.

Narita Airport receives the majority of international passenger traffic to and from Japan, primarily serving Tokyo. Nagoya is Japan?s third-largest city and the fourth most populous urban area in Japan. It is located on the Pacific coast in the Chūbu region and is home to the Suzuka track which hosts the Formula 1? Japanese Grand Prix. Nagoya is also home to the worldwide brand of Toyota where its head quarters are based along with significant manufacturing plants.

Etihad will operate a three cabin Airbus A330 to Tokyo and a two cabin A330 to Nagoya.

Convenient connection times will ensure that flights between Japan and Etihad?s European and Middle East flight network, via Abu Dhabi, are popular with business and leisure travellers.