Timeframe: Happy landings

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Business jets from all over the world have flew into the city last week for the Abu Dhabi Air Expo, the region's only general aviation air show.

The event is held at Al Bateen Executive Airport, formerly the international airport until its relocation in 1982. This photograph shows the airport in use in 1975, and with a passenger jet considerably larger than any that land there today.

Middle East Airlines (MEA), the Lebanese carrier, linked the region to the rest of the world with this Boeing 747 jumbo jet in an age before Etihad and Emirates.

Given the date, this is likely to be the first MEA 747, which was delivered in May of that year and used primarily on flights to London. At that time, British Airways was the only airline offering a direct flight to the UK.

Today, Etihad Airways flies three times a day to London, with Dubai offering a staggering 13 direct flights each day, including eight by Emirates to both Heathrow and Gatwick.

Of course, it still takes just as long to get there.

* James Langton