By Bernama
Melbourne : Etihad Airways is set to increase its flights between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Australia this year.
Etihad, the national carrier of the UAE, will add an extra four flights a week directly between the capital Abu Dhabi and Sydney from October 31, taking its weekly total to 11.
Etihad also flies between Brisbane and Abu Dhabi via Singapore. The new services are expected bring an extra 50,000 travellers to Sydney.
Last year 24,000 people from the Middle East visited Sydney, an increase of 50 percent over 2003.
Etihad, which this week celebrate the first anniversary of its flights from Australia, has been granted 28 flights a week into Australia by 2010.
The carrier said it was examining Perth and Melbourne as other potential destinations.