As motor racing fans from all over the world arrive in Abu Dhabi at the end of the month, the emirate is preparing for an uptick in private jets ahead of the capital’s Formula One race.
Al Bateen Executive Airport, which caters to private jets, expects a 20 per cent increase in aviation traffic compared with the same period last year, which had 200 aircraft movements.
“We are very excited to welcome thousands of travellers for the finale to the Formula One season,” said Ahmed Al Haddabi, the chief operations officer at Abu Dhabi Airports.
This points to increased interest in the F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will also feature big-name entertainers such as Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias and English rock band Florence and The Machine.
To attend the concerts, tickets must be purchased for the race at Yas Marina Circuit.
Nick McElwee, the marketing director at the circuit on Yas Island, said that although capacity remained the same as last year, at 60,000, the global presence was anticipated to be even higher with tickets already close to selling out.
“The announcement comes on the back of very strong ticket sales to date thanks to a strong summer showing that saw massive demand from international markets,” he said.
The airport at Al Bateen recently completed several infrastructure upgrades to handle increased demand for the race.
“We are confident we will exceed expectations of new and returning passengers, providing them with the highest possible levels of comfort and service,” said Mr Al Haddabi.
Enhancements at Al Bateen include the refurbishment of hangars, increased maintenance crew and facilities as well as more retail outlets in the VIP lounges.
The airport has aircraft parking capacity for up to 90 private jets, with carriers including Al Jaber Aviation, Falcon Aviation Services and Rotana Jet.
Tickets for the season’s final grand prix are now expected to sell out, ensuring a capacity crowd of 60,000 at the track.
lgraves@thenational.ae
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