Etihad Airways, the national airline of United Arab Emirates, recently operated its maiden flight from Abu Dhabi to Tripoli, the airline's first new destination of 2012. The service, which will operate three times a week, is the only direct commercial flight between the UAE and Libya's capital city.
The inaugural flight, EY687, departed from Abu Dhabi at 7:45am, on 17th January 2012, and touched down at 12:15pm, local time. On-board the two-class Airbus A330 were UAE Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, Dr Anwar Gargash, former UAE ambassador to Libya, Saeed Obaid al Kaabi, current ambassador, Sultan Rashid Al Kaytoub and UAE Head of Economic Affairs, Jassim Mohamed Al Qassimi.
Expressing his views, Etihad Airways' President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan said, "We are delighted to launch this service to Tripoli. Libya is a beautiful country that, over the coming months and years, will have much to offer both business and leisure travellers. Tripoli is Etihad Airways' fifth African destination and marks the first time these two Arab capitals have been commercially linked by air."
Dr Anwar Gargash underlined the significance of the flight to Tripoli, "This is a further step in the development of the relationship between the UAE and Libya. Direct flights will contribute profoundly to the development of trade, investment and tourism."
From Pakistan, Etihad operates 23 weekly flights to Abu Dhabi - with daily flights from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and twice weekly from Peshawar. From Abu Dhabi, it will operate flights to Tripoli on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.-PR