(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, on Sunday launched its inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi to Sanaa, Yemen's political and commercial capital.
A high-level Yemeni delegation, including Minister of Transport Waed Bathib, Minister of Tourism Dr Qasim Sallam Said, representatives from the Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Education, security officials and senior airport officials received the maiden flight upon its arrival at Rehaba International Airport in Sana'a.
Etihad's senior delegation was received by some of Yemen's key officials upon the arrival of the carrier's maiden flight at Rehaba International Airport in Sana'a. - Supplied photoKhaled El Mehairbi, Etihad Airways' senior vice-president for Government and Aeropolitical Affairs, led the airline's delegation that included Hassan Al Hammadi, senior vice-president for Executive Affairs and Corporate Security; and Ali Murtada, vice-president of Sales for the Middle East, Levant and Africa.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways president and chief executive officer, said: "The ancestral, cultural and business ties between these two countries are significant, and we celebrate this new link between these two capitals. The launch of direct services to Sanaa is consistent with our strategy of adding depth and scale to our network and targeting areas of growth in emerging markets. I am confident this new service will further facilitate Yemen's economic development and encourage trade and investment in the capital." The launch was celebrated with a reception followed by a banquet attended by the UAE Red Crescent bureau based in Yemen, members of the travel trade and a media delegation from the UAE.
Marking the launch of services, Etihad Airways also will visit Al Khair Public School and Um Habiba School in the city, where staff and volunteers are due to distribute 1,000 bags filled with stationery and school supplies to students. The effort is arranged in collaboration with the UAE Red Crescent.
More than 90,000 Yemeni nationals live in the UAE and the country is Yemen's largest regional trading partner, with annual trade valued at over US$2 billion, including $1.6 billion in UAE exports. Overall, the UAE accounts for almost 20 per cent of Yemen's total imports.
Sana'a is Etihad Airways' latest destination on the Arabian Peninsula, joining Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait, Muscat and Riyadh. The airline now serves the Yemeni capital four times a week from Abu Dhabi with an Airbus A320 aircraft equipped with 16 Pearl Business Class seats and 120 seats in Coral Economy Class.
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