Etihad Airways on Sunday launched the first non-stop service between Abu Dhabi and Calgary, the largest city in Canada’s western province of Alberta, Gulf News reported.

Flight EY29 landed at Calgary International Airport on Sunday. The inaugural flight was sold out, and government officials, airport authorities, and tourism representatives gathered to mark the occasion, the report said. It is the first direct flight from any Gulf city to Calgary.

The service will operate four times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with 303 seats. The aircraft has 32 business class seats and 271 in economy.

EY29 departs Abu Dhabi at 2:25am and arrives in Calgary at 7am. The return flight, EY30, leaves Calgary at 1pm and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 12:55pm the following day.

Calgary becomes Etihad’s second Canadian destination after Toronto. Passengers previously had to connect through other airports to travel between Calgary and Abu Dhabi. The route also offers onward connections from Abu Dhabi to destinations across the Gulf, Africa, India, Pakistan and elsewhere in Asia.

Captain Majed Al Marzouqi, Etihad’s Chief Operations and Guest Officer, said Canada is an important market for the airline. “We have been flying to Toronto for many years, and we are excited to become the first Gulf carrier to serve a second Canadian city,” he said.

Joseph Schow, Alberta’s Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration, said the route would help Alberta businesses and travellers reach markets in the Gulf and beyond, supporting trade, investment and tourism ties.

Chris Dinsdale, President and CEO of Calgary Airports, said the new link makes the distance between the two cities “feel a whole lot shorter.”

Alberta is known for its energy industry and is the gateway to the Canadian Rockies, including Banff and Jasper national parks. Etihad said travellers connecting through Abu Dhabi can use its stopover programme to visit the UAE capital.

Source: Gulf News