Bangkok--14 Jun--Total Quality PR Etihad Airways, The National Airline of the United Arab Emirates, which operates highly popular twice daily flights from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi and onwards to 43 destinations around the globe, will start non-stop flights in September three times-a-week from Abu Dhabi to Singapore. The announcement comes a day after the launch of the Abu Dhabi-Singapore Business Forum (ADSBF), which will forge greater links between the two cities. Singapore will be Etihad’s fifth destination in the Far East to add to Bangkok, Manila, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, which was launched in January 2007. James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “The new service will cater for the growing demand for air travel between the UAE and Singapore from business and leisure travellers, which is growing year on year.” “The new service demonstrates Etihad’s ambitions to provide our customers with flights to the world’s top destinations, and the creation of the ADSBF will also benefit the airline greatly with the increasing commercial co-operation between Singapore and Abu Dhabi.” Trade and bilateral ties between the UAE and Singapore continue to develop with trade totalling US$ 8.04 billion in 2006, compared with US$ 7.1 billion in 2004. The UAE was the second largest Middle East investor in Singapore in 2006. The two countries also share extensive links in education, transport and logistics services, infrastructure development, oil and gas services, tourism and investment. Etihad will operate a two cabin Airbus A330-200 between Abu Dhabi and Singapore configured to carry 262 passengers, with 22 in business class (pearl zone) and 240 in economy (coral zone). The airline will operate to Terminal 2 at Changi international airport in Singapore. The flight details and schedule for the new Abu Dhabi- Singapore service will be confirmed following final discussions between Etihad and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS). Flight times will also be created to enable seamless passenger travel between Singapore and Europe with only a brief stop-over in Abu Dhabi. About Etihad Airways Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates based in the UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi. Currently Etihad offers flights to 43 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. For further details: Etihad Airways Corporate Communications: Tel: 02 253 0099 or visit www.etihadairways.com For more information as well as pictures, please contact: Tom Van Blarcom / Ruthaiwan Tanwongwan Total Quality PR (Thailand) Co., Ltd Tel. 02 260 5820 Fax 02 260 5847 — 8 E-mail : [email protected] Click for photo release at www.thaipr.net