Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, launched its maiden flight to Manchester – the regional capital of the north west of England. Etihad’s new purpose-built A330-200 aircraft took off in the…
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, launched its maiden flight to Manchester – the regional capital of the north west of England. Etihad’s new purpose-built A330-200 aircraft took off in the early hours of Monday morning.
“Demand for air travel between the north of England and the UAE is growing year-on-year, and Etihad Airways is delighted to be commencing this daily service between Abu Dhabi and Manchester. Manchester is an immensely popular destination with a famous commercial, cultural, and of course, sporting history,” said Raymond Korban, regional general manager UAE and Oman, Etihad Airways.
“The city of Manchester and Etihad Airways are both closely associated with the world of sport. Manchester is home to two premiership football clubs and the world famous Old Trafford cricket ground, and Etihad Airways is leading the field through its sponsorship of innovative events including the Brazil – UAE football match in November 2005, the inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championships early this year, and the 2007 Gulf Cup football tournament,” continued Korban.
Manchester is the UK’s largest economic region outside London, and will be Etihad Airways’ third UK destination after its current services to London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
“The new Abu Dhabi to Manchester route will have a significant impact on trade ties between the UK and UAE. The daily Etihad Airways flight will enable greater opportunities for investment across the established industries of construction and engineering, as well as promoting newer lucrative sectors such as tourism,” said Robert Deane, British Commercial Attache to the UAE.
The new Etihad route will serve many of the 650,000 Britons who visit the United Arab Emirates each year, in addition to the estimated 95,000 British citizens living in the UAE.
Manchester is one of the UK’s busiest airports, handling over 22 million passengers a year, and providing access to many of the north-west’s major areas of interest including Blackpool, Chester and the Lake District, along with other cities such as Liverpool.
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