Etihad Airways celebrated its inaugural flight to Amsterdam yesterday. The launch of the service is an important development in the strategic partnership between Etihad and KLM. First announced in October 2012, the partnership involves the two airlines codesharing on multiple routes across each other’s networks. The new daily service between Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam complements KLM’s flights on that route, which carries Etihad Airways’ EY code, ensuring the two airlines will offer a combined double daily service from the summer. The Etihad Airways A330-200 aircraft, configured to carry 262 passengers, 22 in Pearl Business Class and 240 in Coral Economy Class, was greeted with a ceremonial water cannon salute by Dutch fire engines as it taxied to the gate at Schiphol.