Mounib: New Abu Dhabi airline to mark turning point for operator

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Abu Dhabi Duty Free managing director welcomes Abu Dhabi International airport's first dedicated carrier, Etihad

The launch this month of the new Abu Dhabi airline Etihad will mark a turning point for local operator Abu Dhabi Duty Free, managing director Mohamed Mounib has said. The new carrier will start operations with two A330-200 aircraft, but has ambitions to expand its fleet to 16 within a year.

Mounib told TRW: ?It's the first time we'll have an airline dedicated to our airport. Not only will it handle customers on their way from Abu Dhabi but it will bring in many more tourist and transit passengers. The future looks very bright and the whole airport will benefit.?

The duty-free operator is already seeing positive results from the launch in the summer of the Gulf Air subsidiary Gulf Traveller. The airport should handle around 4.1m passengers this year as a result of the extra business, a slight rise on 2002.

The operator is forecasting an 8.4% rise in sales to year-end, despite being hit hard from February to May by the effect of war and SARS on traffic.