Etihad Airways has announced it is to up capacity on its flights at Manchester by nearly 60%.

From June, the airline is to upgrade its current two-class A330-200 aircraft to a two-class B777-300, which will increase its seat capacity by 2,100 seats per week on the Manchester to Abu Dhabi route.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad’s chief commercial officer, said: “Our services to Manchester have been performing very strongly, with load factors of close to 80 per cent in 2009. The business and investment ties between Manchester and Abu Dhabi have never been stronger and the introduction of the B777 furthers our commitment to this important route.”

Etihad has been operating from Manchester Airport since 2006 offering Manchester flights to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow with its codeshare partner, bmi and to Isle of Man, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Southampton and Inverness with its codeshare partner, Flybe.