Afghan airline to launch flights to Abu Dhabi

Safi Airways, the private Afghan airline with offices in Dubai, will begin flights from Abu Dhabi to Kabul next year in a bid to boost its network of routes and destinations. Flights from the oil-rich emirate to the Afghan capital will commence on January 5 with four services a week, as part of the carrier’s ongoing expansion plan. “The new flight to Abu Dhabi shows our commitment to growth within the GCC region,” said Hamid Safi, CEO, in an emailed statement on Wednesday. “With the new addition of the A320, we are determined to keep adding more routes under Safi Airways’ destination list.” In October this year, Safi Airways acquired its second Airbus A320 in view of increasing its regional connectivity. The privately-owned airline, which competes with state-backed carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines, was founded in 2006 by entrepreneur Abdul Qudos Safi. It currently serves Kabul, Delhi and Dubai with weekly A320 services, after dropping flights to Kuwait last September as part of a company restructure, and ceasing services to Frankfurt late November due to safety reasons. In 2012, the carrier is expected to announce a slew of new routes across the GCC and elsewhere.