Etihad Airways, the National Airline of the United Arab Emirates, has announced it will commence service to Bahrain effective August 22, 2004.  Etihad will begin with four flights per week, increasing to daily service early in the winter season.Raymond Korban, Etihad’s General Manager for the Southern Gulf said the link to Bahrain will further ties between two Gulf states that share a common cultural heritage and many financial and economic interests—providing another choice to travelers between Bahrain and the UAE. 

“Etihad Airways is eager to give residents of Bahrain the opportunity of trying our full service airline.  Our guests tell us they expect more from air carriers serving Bahrain and we fully intend to exceed their expectations with our growing network,” Korban said.

The new route marks the ninth destination in as many months for Etihad Airways, which continues to expand its fleet of modern aircraft and its route network in rapid fashion.

Etihad operates widebody A330-200 aircraft on its existing Middle East routes to Amman, Beirut, and Damascus.  Since Etihad’s inauguaral commercial flight in November 2003, flight frequency and seating capacity has increased substantially in response to popular demand. 
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