Hours spent in the car on Sheikh Zayed Road could become minutes in the sky for some executives as a UAE airline launches a regular Abu Dhabi to Dubai service.

Rotana Jet said yesterday its two new routes - Abu Dhabi to Dubai and Sir Bani Yas Island to Dubai - would begin flying on Thursday. The Abu Dhabi-Dubai service will operate a 50-seat Embraer Jet between Al Bateen Airport and Dubai Terminal 2 three times a week, on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

RG 117 will depart Abu Dhabi at 0925 and arrive in Dubai at 0945. RG 118 will depart Dubai at 1615 and arrive in Abu Dhabi Al Bateen Airport at 1645. Fares start at Dh150 for a one-way trip.

"Demand for connecting cities within the UAE has steadily grown, and customers have been requesting a direct connectivity between Abu Dhabi and Dubai and between Dubai and Sir Bani Yas Island for some time now," said Rajendran Vellapalath, Rotana Jet's commercial and planning director.

The Sir Bani Yas Island-Dubai service will also operate three days a week, Rotana Jet said, linking tourists to two Anantara resorts on the island, which includes a 552-person capacity conference centre. Fares start at Dh200 one-way.

Rotana Jet launched domestic flights last year between Al Bateen Airport and Sir Bani Yas Island and also operates flights to Delma Island, Fujairah and Al Ain.

business@thenational.ae