(MENAFN- Arab News) Etihad regional announced that it will introduce five new routes expanding the airline's operations out of zurich to eight destinations.

building on its network expansion strategy etihad regional will commence daily services from zurich to linz (austria) lyon (france) and verona (italy). from zurich the airline will also operate to dusseldorf (germany) two times per week and to florence (italy) four times per week.

etihad regional already flies daily from zurich to geneva and leipzig-halle and recently launched three flights per week between zurich and turin.

the addition of the five new routes will bring etihad regional's total network to 25 year-round destinations in europe.

the airline will deploy its atr 72-500 and saab 2000 fleet on the new routes. the atr aircraft offers 68 seats in economy class while the saab aircraft offers a total of 50 seats in a two-class configuration with four premium economy seats and 46 economy class seats.

etihad regional operates eight saab 2000 aircraft and by june will add four atr 72-500 to its fleet.

maurizio merlo ceo of etihad regional said: 'the new services will provide additional choice for business and leisure travelers flying to and from zurich. beyond zurich our guests will be able to connect easily on etihad airways' upcoming daily zurich-abu dhabi service starting from june 1."

peter baumgartner vice chairman designate of etihad regional said: 'we are delighted to see the collaboration with etihad airways is strengthening etihad regional's business opening new commercial opportunities as well as standardizing its product and service."

flights beyond abu dhabi offered by etihad airways and its equity partners jet airways and virgin australia connect well with destinations in the middle east indian subcontinent asia and australia.