Calgarians will soon be able to skip the layovers and fly straight to the Middle East, thanks to a new nonstop route connecting Calgary and Abu Dhabi, the first of its kind in Western Canada. “It allows you to completely re‑mitigate your travel plans and not worry about stopovers and delays,” said one traveller at YYC. “For getting from point A to point B quickly, I think that’s awesome.”Another traveller said the direct link opens cultural doors as well as logistical ones. The connection gives Calgarians faster access to more than 100 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, and positions YYC as a growing global hub. “The role of the airport is to connect our community to the world and to connect the world to our community,” said Chris Dinsdale, President and CEO of Calgary Airports.