Abu Dhabi, Oct 23 (IANS/WAM): Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will increase its Abu Dhabi-Colombo service from seven flights per week to a double-daily schedule from Feb 16 next year.

Operated with an Airbus A320 aircraft fitted with 16 business class seats and 120 economy class seats, the new service will add over 1,900 seats per week on the Abu Dhabi-Colombo route.

"Colombo is a fast growing city that serves as a major business and trade hub,” Kevin Knight, chief strategy and planning officer of Etihad Airways, said.

“Our new second daily flight to Colombo will strengthen our position in the Sri Lankan market and offer our guests more convenient travel options and improved connections to many key destinations across our global network,” he added.

The new flights will also offer a 46 percent increase in the number of connections to key destinations in Britain, Europe, Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries via the airline's hub in Abu Dhabi.