Pakistan's Air Blue starts Abu Dhabi operations

Air Blue, Pakistan's second largest airline, began operations to Abu Dhabi yesterday from Lahore, bringing the number of airlines touching down at the UAE capital to 40.

The inaugural Air Blue flight, which landed at around noon yesterday, was received at the Abu Dhabi airport by Mohammed Al Bulooki, Vice-President of Airline Marketing and Aeronautical Revenue at the Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC).

He said the ADAC's aim had been to raise the number of airlines calling at Abu Dhabi Airport to 39 by the end of 2008 – a goal they had already surpassed with four months of the year remaining.

Al Bulooki attributed this to the rapid economic growth in Abu Dhabi, coupled with its strategic location and the influx of large numbers of foreign tourists.

He added that the ADAC was negotiating with 150 airlines and flight operators from around the world to service Abu Dhabi.

Al Bulooki said he expected a big demand for Air Blue's services from the 600,000-strong Pakistani community in the UAE, about half of whom reside in Abu Dhabi.