RAK Airways set to launch Abu Dhabi flights in Oct

RAK Airways said on Wednesday it would launch flights to neighbouring Abu Dhabi in October.

The first flights to the UAE capital will begin on October 3, taking the airline's total number of destinations to 10 since its relaunch in October 2010.

Last year, RAK Airways filled 250,000 seats while gradually expanding its destination network to Africa, Middle East and Asia.

RAK Airways acting CEO, John Brayford, said in a statement: "With the launch of Abu Dhabi, we are offering residents of Ras Al Khaimah and Northern Emirates an alternative."

With the first flight to Abu Dhabi, RAK Airways will become the first UAE flag carrier to operate domestic flights, the statement added.

RAK Airways relaunched operations in 2010 with two routes to Jeddah, and Calicut, India.

Since then, the airline has focused on extending its route network across the GCC, Indian sub-continent and North Africa.

In June, it launched its first long-haul service to Bangkok.