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The first Elite Aviation aircraft, operated by Blue Wings, arrives at Abu Dhabi Airport to a water-cannon salute |
UAE. Abu Dhabi-based Elite Aviation yesterday commenced services to two new destinations in Germany, operated by the German carrier Blue Wings.
Elite Aviation will operate the services from Abu Dhabi five times per week with three weekly direct flights to Duesseldorf, and the UAE’s first direct flights to Berlin operating twice weekly. Currently no other airline operates services between the two German cities and Abu Dhabi.
Elite Aviation/Blue Wings will operate out of Terminal 1 at Abu Dhabi International Airport with the 112-seat A320 aircraft in two product classes – business and economy.
Blue Wings was launched in 2003 and operates a fleet of nine A320 aircraft from its main base in Duesseldorf, which is Germany’s third largest airport, and from eleven other German cities. The airline offers services to Eastern Europe, Southern Asia and the Middle East.
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“This new joint venture will offer passengers the convenience of flying from capital to capital and is expected to appeal to the German nationals living in the UAE.“ |
Mohammed Al Bulooki Vice President of Airline Marketing and Aeronautical Revenue Abu Dhabi Airports Company |
ADAC Vice President of Airline Marketing and Aeronautical Revenue Mohammed Al Bulooki said: “We are delighted to welcome the Elite Aviation and Blue Wings joint venture to Abu Dhabi, the 46th airline to offer services from Abu Dhabi International Airport and the fifth new airline to begin operations this year. The airline has added two new destinations; Duesseldorf and Berlin to our route network.
“This new joint venture will offer passengers the convenience of flying from capital to capital and is expected to appeal to the German nationals living in the UAE, as well as to the increasing numbers of business and leisure passengers travelling between the two countries,” he added.
The flights will operate on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday to Duesseldorf and Tuesday and Friday to Berlin. The flights will depart from Abu Dhabi in the early morning allowing travellers to benefit from a full day in Germany and quick connections to the other European and American gateways.
Elite Aviation President HE Khalid Al Hashemi said: “We are excited and pleased about this new service with our joint venture partner Blue Wings, to service the growing number of business and leisure passengers wanting to fly directly between Abu Dhabi, Berlin and Duesseldorf. We are delighted to establish these routes and we are confident that they will be well received in these markets.
“The Berlin and Duesseldorf routes are the first step for the Elite Aviation operation. Our aim is to connect Abu Dhabi with a large range of destinations in Europe to generate additional business opportunities for UAE and European companies.”
The services are expected to facilitate Abu Dhabi’s growing commercial relationship with Germany. The UAE is the single largest shareholder in Daimler, with the UAE holding a 9.1% stake in the group. In 2008 the UAE maintained its status as Mercedes-Benz’s largest regional market. By the end of 2008, German exports to the UAE grew by +40% to over €8 billion.
There are currently around 700 German companies located within the UAE, with approximately 200 based in Abu Dhabi and 500 in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
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