'Abu Dhabi's budget carrier to bring relief to expat workers'

UAE - New cooperation in the aviation sector will boost people-to-people relations and enhance trade and tourism amid the pandemic, top diplomats said on Friday as Air Arabia Abu Dhabi started operations to Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Abu Dhabi's first low-cost carrier will fly thrice (Sunday, Wednesday and Friday) a week to Kabul and twice (Wednesday and Friday) to Dhaka.

Mohammed Abu Zafar, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the UAE, said a budget carrier will give "relief" to blue-collar workers.

"Air connectivity is important for the promotion of any kind of relationships - be it people-to-people or business-to-business. This will be a relief for workers and ease their travel," Zafar said.

"This will also increase cargo flowing in here from Bangladesh, which will boost bilateral trade. This is a welcome move," he added.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Sayer Daudzai, Charge d'Affaires, Afghanistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi, said air connectivity will drive economic and social progress.

"This is a great step towards increasing aviation cooperation between Afghanistan and the UAE. This will also lead to more tourists and investors coming from Afghanistan to Abu Dhabi, resulting in more investment in Abu Dhabi's real estate sector."

Daudzai noted that Abu Dhabi will become a transit hub for Afghans wishing to travel between Afghanistan, Europe and North America.

"They can transit through the state-of-the-art Abu Dhabi International Airport and take advantage of the quality of service of Etihad Airways."

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi was formed following an agreement by Etihad Airways and Air Arabia.

"This will make it easy for Afghan residents in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain to travel back and forth between Afghanistan and Abu Dhabi," Daudzai added.