Air links between Oman and China are set to improve with the launch by Etihad Airways of a new, four-flights-per-week, service from its Abu Dhabi home-base to Beijing on March 30, 2008.

To celebrate its first flights to China, and entice Oman-based customers to visit the Chinese capital, Etihad has launched a new promotional campaign with air fares starting from OMR188 in economy class and OMR588 in business class.

Speaking at a media event in Muscat on March 4, Jaffar Juma, Etihad Airways' country manager Oman, said: "Beijing has established itself as one of the world's fastest growing and most popular destinations. We anticipate tremendous demand for this new Etihad service from our customers living in Oman which includes the growing Chinese community in Muscat."

Beijing will be Etihad's eighth destination in its rapidly expanding flight network in the Asia-Pacific region which already includes services to Brisbane, Sydney, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Bangkok.

Jaffar added: "There is a huge appetite from business and leisure travellers for flights to Beijing, especially ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games, and we look forward to bringing Oman and China closer together."

The media event in Muscat also marked the two year anniversary of Etihad Airways in Oman. During this time Etihad has increased its flights to Abu Dhabi from daily to three times a day, connecting with the airline's global network of 45 destinations.

Etihad will operate a two class Airbus A330-200 from Abu Dhabi to Beijing which is configured to carry 262 passengers with 22 in business class and 240 in economy class.

Etihad's services to the Chinese capital will operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with flight EY888 departing from Abu Dhabi at 11.45pm and arriving in the Chinese capital at 11.30am the next day.

Return flight EY889 departs from Beijing every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7.10pm arriving in Abu Dhabi at 00.20am the next day.