Etihad set to double flights to Iraq destination

James Hogan, Etihad Airways CEO and crew members [Getty Images]..

Etihad Airways said on Wednesday it will double its flights from Abu Dhabi to Erbil in Iraq at the beginning of September.

The current twice-weekly service will increase to four services per week, complementing Etihad's daily operation to its other Iraqi destination, Baghdad.

Etihad began two-class Airbus A320 operations to Erbil in June 2010, and the load factor on the route surpassed 80 percent by May 2011, the airline said in a statement.

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This additional capacity is aimed at meeting continuing high demand on Etihad's Erbil flights, it added.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways CEO, said: "We are committed to building and strengthening ties in our region. We expect to see continuing strong demand on these routes, particularly from government and business travellers, as well as people from Iraq visiting family and friends around the world."

Etihad recently commenced its cargo operations to Erbil, supplementing cargo flights to Baghdad which began in September 2008.

Etihad Airways said it increased the frequency of its flights to a number of key destinations within the GCC, Europe, Indian sub-continent, Africa and the Asia Pacific region at the beginning of the year.