Etihad Airways, the national airline of theUnited Arab Emirates, recently operated its maiden flight fromAbu DhabitoTripoli, 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 Abu Dhabi at 07:45am, 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 toLibyaH.E. Saeed Obaid al Kaabi, current ambassador H.E. Sultan Rashid Al Kaytoub and UAE Head of Economic Affairs H.E. Jassim Mohamed Al Qassimi.
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.”
His Excellency Dr. Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, underlined the significance of the launch of Etihad Airways flights to Tripoli: “This is a further step in the development of the relationship between the United Arab Emirates 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, Etihad Airways has flights to Tripoli thrice a week on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.
