Etihad Airways has confirmed its Abu Dhabi–Düsseldorf route will be operated 14 times a week with the addition of a new daily service, effective March 26th.

The double daily schedule will provide greater choice to local passengers travelling between Abu Dhabi and Düsseldorf, and further increase connectivity to and from Germany over the airline’s Abu Dhabi hub.

Etihad Airways will also increase international connections through code-sharing with partner carrier airberlin via Düsseldorf.

The new mid-morning departure from Abu Dhabi and return overnight service from Düsseldorf will offer two-way connectivity to additional markets across Asia and Australia, including Brisbane, Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Seoul, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Phuket, Kathmandu and Seychelles.

The extra daily frequency will provide further connections to popular destinations including Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Mumbai and Delhi.

With the additional capacity, Etihad Airways’ frequency between Abu Dhabi and its three German gateways of Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich rises from 35 to 42 services a week, ensuring consistency of double daily flights to each city.

Partner carrier airberlin also operates twice daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Berlin.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways chief executive, said: “Increased frequency to our key destinations globally is a focus for Etihad Airways as expansion ensures more travel options for guests looking for greater flexibility.

“We are therefore delighted to soon offer double daily options to all four German destinations on Etihad Airways and our strategic partner airberlin.”

airberlin, which operates a daily service between Düsseldorf and Abu Dhabi, has notified Etihad Airways of its decision to discontinue the route and redeploy the aircraft onto other markets from the beginning of the 2017 summer schedule.

airberlin will continue to offer its Düsseldorf-based customers access to Abu Dhabi and beyond through code-sharing on Etihad Airways’ existing and new flights from the western German city.

Passengers booked on airberlin flights from Düsseldorf to Abu Dhabi and beyond will be reprotected on services operated by Etihad Airways.