Abu Dhabi, April 18 (IANS/WAM) Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE will start flights to Baghdad from April 26, making it the first airline in the Gulf to fly to Iraq.

Etihad will operate five return flights per week from Abu Dhabi to Baghdad and will expand its operation with two additional return services to a second Iraq destination - Erbil - from June 1, James Hogan, chief executive of Etihad Airways, said.

"We are committed to building and strengthening ties in our region and we are pleased that Etihad will be the first airline in the UAE to fly to Iraq," he said.

"We expect to see strong demand on these routes, particularly from government and business travellers, as well as people from Iraq visiting family and friends around the world," he said.

Hogan said the timing of the new services offered travellers convenient onward connections via Abu Dhabi to a number of key destinations including the Middle East, Australia, China, Europe, Japan, North America and the Philippines.