Both Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines have added new regional flights to meet increasing demand. International Air Traffic Association released new statistics showing demand for services in the Middle East increased 3.1 per cent in January 2009 even as the global economic downturn continues.
Emirates Airlines added three weekly flights to Beirut and two weekly flights to Damman, and Tehran. Etihad increased the number of flights to Amman, Beirut, Doha, Brussels, Geneva, Milan, and Moscow and added new services to Istanbul, Athens and Larnaca beginning in June. Including the new services, Etihad has increased its operations by 20%. Etihad’s Middle Eastern network currently covers 14 cities with 180 weekly flights.
