Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, yesterday welcomed the maiden Gulf Air flight which landed at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport from Abu Dhabi with a ceremony held to mark the occasion.

This is the first air route between Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah. The airline will operate five flights weekly.

With this, the airline has become the sole carrier providing domestic air transport services.

In a statement at the inaugural ceremony, Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Board of Ras Al Khaimah Department of Civil Aviation, stated that the route will help passengers arriving Ras Al Khaimah airport to connect with flights to 50 international destinations. He indicated that the new route will boost by 35 per cent the passengers using Ras Al Khaimah airport, while cargo operations would rise 25 per cent, and air traffic 40 per cent.

He also disclosed that about 60 per cent of the Vision 2020 plan, which includes the expansion and modernisation of the airport, had been completed.

The Abu Dhabi-Ras Al Khaimah flights will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Mahfouz Al Harthy, regional director general of the company, said that the launch of the route is part of a strategic plan aiming at expanding the carrier's regional and international air service network.