Etihad Airways launches flight to Brazil

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has launched non-stop flights between Abu Dhabi and Sao Paulo, Brazil, the airline's first destination in South America.

The first flight touched down at Guarulhos International Airport on Sunday at 4:35pm local time, operated by an Airbus A340-500 aircraft, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

The new Brazil service marks Etihad Airways' entry into its sixth continent and an important move in increasing its presence across BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China trading bloc) high growth nations.

Brazil has the world's sixth largest economy and it is the largest country in South America, with a population of almost 200 million.

The new flights mark the airline's commercial entry into Brazil, though the company has long-standing ties to the country.

Etihad Airways' first ever commercial flight (to Beirut) ten years ago used a leased aircraft, operated by a Brazilian crew.

Several of those first cabin crew and pilots are still working with the Abu Dhabi-based airline, which has since become the world's leading airline with its own fleet of 77 modern aircraft.