Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), operated its inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi to Basra in southern Iraq on April 15, 2012. The service, which operates four times weekly, marks the introduction of a third destination in Iraq for UAE carrier and it is being operated using an Airbus A320 configured with 16 Pearl Business Class and 120 Coral Economy class seats.

“This new service is an important step for Etihad Airways and for the UAE, reflecting a commitment to strengthening ties in the region,” said James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways. “Basra is an important industrial and transport hub but currently has limited access to air services. Our new flight will make a significant contribution to improving this situation for the people of the region.”

Oil and gas represent the backbone of the local economy and major companies rotating staff in and out of Basra have expressed strong interest in the new flights, a senior executive from the airline confirmed to The HUB during Routes Asia. The route will certainly help to promote trade and tourism between the two countries and will further facilitate investment opportunities, while support the demand for the Iraqi community residing in the UAE.

“We have witnessed the dramatic growth in bilateral relations recently between the two countries on all levels,” explained His Excellency Abdulla Ibrahim Al Zowi Al Shehi, UAE Ambassador to Iraq. “Iraq and the UAE have great potential for cooperation and mutual development and Etihad’s services to Baghdad, Erbil and now Basra are vitally important on government and social levels as they strengthen the bridges of understanding between Iraq and the UAE, as well as increasing trade and tourism.”

Etihad Airways has been serving Iraq since April 2010 when it commenced flights to the capital Baghdad and it subsequently added links to Erbil in the north of the country in June 2010. Last year Etihad Airways carried more than 100,000 passengers between Abu Dhabi and these two cities, with the Baghdad route enjoying particularly strong growth, according to the carrier. Etihad also offers cargo flights into Iraq and has increased of its freight services to Erbil from two to three weekly rotations.