Outbound travellers from Singapore can look forward to additional flights to Abu Dhabi and Brisbane, Australia.

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), touched down in Singapore on Sept 28, marking the start of six weekly flights between Brisbane and Abu Dhabi, with a stopover at Changi Airport.

This will bring to a total 12 weekly flights between Singapore and Abu Dhabi. Singapore Airlines currently operates six flights on this route.

With passenger traffic between Singapore and UAE growing strongly, the launch of Etihad Airways' services comes at an opportune time, said Mr Lim Kim Choon, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).

At an official welcome ceremony held on Wednesday for the Middle Eastern carrier, Mr Lim said that passenger traffic between the two countries reached 340,000 in 2006 - an impressive 20.3 per cent increase over the previous year.

"This strong growth has continued into 2007, with passenger traffic increasing by 20.1 per cent in the first 8 months of this year, compared to the same period in 2006," he added.

There are now a total of 116 weekly flights between Singapore, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi which are served by three airlines - Singapore Airlines, Emirates, and Etihad Airways.

Etihad Airways is the fourth new airline to launch flight services to Changi Airport this year.

Myanmar's Air Bagan, Sri Lanka's Mihin Lanka and Etihad Airways made their maiden flights from Singapore in September, while Jett8 Airlines Cargo commenced freighter services in June.

Changi Airport is currently served by 81 airlines which connect Singapore to 192 cities in 59 countries via 4,220 scheduled weekly flights.

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Top picture: (From left to right) His Excellency Asim Mirza Alramah (Charge d'Affaires ad interim and Minister of the UAE to Singapore), Mr Lim Kim Choon (Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, CAAS), Mr Peter Baumgartner (Executive Vice President Marketing and Product, Etihad Airways) and Mr Geert Boven (Executive Vice President Sales and Services, Etihad Airways) [Photo: CAAS}