Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways will increase its flights to Kathmandu, Nepal from four times a week to every day, beginning in January 2010.  Etihad began the Kathmandu flight service in December 2008, and it has proven to be quite popular, with high volumes of traffic going into the Middle East and Abu Dhabi, as well as transit traffic to onward destinations like Frankfurt, London, and Western Europe. 

A company statement said high average load factors of between 80 percent and 90 percent on both inbound and outbound flights have prompted them to expand the route.
The statement said Etihad Airways corporate travel has been increasing and this has had a positive effect on inbound tourism into Nepal.  Etihad Airways’ regional general manager said “In addition to the strong demand for flights from Nepalese nationals who work in Abu Dhabi and further afield, we have seen a strengthening in corporate and leisure traffic.”