Travelling to the Middle East got a little quicker Sunday, when Etihad Airlines completed the first ever non-stop flight between Abu Dhabi and Calgary. A small celebration took place at Calgary Airport to mark the occasion, after sold-out flight EY29 touched down Sunday morning, where it received a Western Canadian welcome featuring dignitaries from the province, the airport, and the tourism sector. The new service will operate four times a week on Etihad’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner. “This is a historic moment for the city of Calgary and for the province of Alberta,” said Alberta Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Minister Joseph Schow, “and really for Western Canada as we now have the only direct flight in the UAE. “What that does is connects Alberta and Western Canada to the Middle East and really to the rest of the world.” “This flight came together through a lot of collaboration between the governments, private business, the airport and of course Etihad,” he added. “So we’re really excited about this moment.” One frequent international flyer said he was excited too. “I go to India every year. Usually I have to go through somewhere in Europe which is a longer layover, and it gets kind of tiring. “So I’m looking forward to this.” A second traveler, Greg Sretsky, agreed. “I’m actually heading to a business meeting in New Delhi, and the fastest way between Calgary and New Delhi is now through Abu Dhabi. So it’s great to be on this inaugural flight. It’s going to shave hours off my total travel time.” Alpena Matthews, Etihad’s regional manager for the Americas, said the new route represented an opportunity for the airline. “This is a new connection that will open doors to greater opportunities in tourism, business, trade, and investment,” Matthews said. “While we’re connecting travelers from Calgary to Abu Dhabi, and more than 100 destinations across our growing global network. For all of us at Etihad Airways, it is an important moment for us. “Calgary is a dynamic international connection, the city with tremendous growth potential, and we are proud to bring this service and our people and our hospitality to this market.” For more about Eithad Airways, go here. With files from CTV’s Darren Wright
