(23 April 2014)
Six new destinations and 71 extra flights a week to India are the highlights of Abu Dhabi International Airport's summer 2014 flying schedule for air travellers, the busiest in its history.
The number of weekly flights available for business travellers and holiday makers has increased by 18% compared to last year's summer from 1,052 to 1,242.
New routes to be served this summer compared to the same period in 2013 include non-stop flights from Abu Dhabi to Los Angeles in the USA, Zurich in Switzerland, Belgrade in Serbia, Perth in Australia, Jaipur in India and Yerevan in Armenia.
Abu Dhabi International Airport will also see more flights this summer in the Gulf region to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain. Additionally, more aircraft will fly to Pakistan with extra flights to Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Karachi, Peshawar and Rahin Yar Khan.
European cities to be further linked with the UAE's capital city including Rome, Moscow, Munich, Athens and Dublin.
Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore will each witness 14 extra flights a week from Abu Dhabi - the greatest growth in the Indian market. There will be 10 new services to Mumbai, eight to Cochin and seven to Delhi on a weekly basis.The new route to Jaipur operated by Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways will operate once a day.
Eng. Ahmad Al Haddabi, Chief Operations Officer, Abu Dhabi Airports, said: "The summer schedule will be the largest flying programme Abu Dhabi has ever operated. The growth compared to last year is a testament to the eyes of the world looking more and more at the UAE's capital, and to the country's national airline, Etihad Airways, satisfying that ever growing demand.”
"We have in place an award winning airport that accommodates the increasing number of passengers using Abu Dhabi International Airport as their destination or travel hub. This is an exciting time in our development as we remain on track to open the world's biggest new terminal in 2017 and the growth in the number of flights linking Abu Dhabi to cities all around the world is a trend that Abu Dhabi Airports expects to continue in the years ahead."