Abu Dhabi flights to grow 8% in new winter rota

Abu Dhabi Airports Company on Sunday said that flights are set to increase by eight percent between November and next March, compared to the previous winter season.

According to the new timetable at Abu Dhabi International Airport, travellers will be offered more than 900 flights weekly from the UAE capital to five continents, with additional frequencies, newly launched airlines and destinations.

The new schedule announcement comes as the airport prepares for the peak travel season during October to January when Abu Dhabi hosts major international events including the Formula One race in November, along with this season's holidays of Eid Al Adha and Hajj.

The 2011-2012 winter timetable includes Etihad Airways' new destinations to Chengdu, Dusseldorf, Male and the Seychelles as well as increased frequencies of Air India Express, Yemenia Airways and Saudi Arabian Airways flights.

Singapore Airways and Lufthansa have also increased their schedules to Abu Dhabi while the airport will also welcome new arrivals VAustralia, Cathay Pacific and Czech Airlines.

In the new timetable for winter 2011-2012, Abu Dhabi International Airport's top routes will be Bahrain with 63 weekly flights, followed by Doha with 61 flights and Muscat with 57 flights.

Ahmad Al Haddabi, chief operating officer, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, said: "Abu Dhabi Airports Company is continuously adapting its plans and developments to deliver services that exceed the expectations and demands of its travelers and airlines partners equally."