Etihad to fly non-stop 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 AED 27.9 billion in 2006, compared with AED 24.8 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.