Captain Richard Hill, Etihad Airways’ Chief Operations Officer, said: "We believe moving to the new airport is a positive step which will continue to meet our guests’ expectations of travelling with the world’s leading airline.”

The new airport is designed to accommodate the rapid increase in passenger numbers and is expected to almost triple the airport’s capacity.

The terminal, designed by Foster + Partners, is 103,000 sqm and should increase capacity by 60% to nearly twelve million passengers per year.

Etihad Flight EY 513 departs Abu Dhabi daily at 08:10, and arrives in Amman at 10:40. Etihad’s second daily flight, EY 515, flight departs Abu Dhabi at 13:00 and arrives in Amman at 15:40.

The daily return flight, EY 514, departs Amman at 11:25 and arrives in Abu Dhabi Airport at 15:15, while EY 516 departs at 16:30 and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 20:20.

An upgraded range of facilities and services has been introduced at the new airport, including larger check-in areas and newly designed retail and dining outlets. Upgrades to the baggage handling system and security areas have also been made.

Etihad Airways is the first foreign airline to begin operations to and from the new Queen Alia Airport. The UAE flag carrier started operations from Abu Dhabi to the Jordanian capital in December 2003.

Etihad Airways offers 31 weekly flights to Abu Dhabi from Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and twice a week from Peshawar. Travellers from Pakistan will have direct flights to Amman via Abu Dhabi, the airline’s home-base.