Ronan Keating, an international recording artist, joined a line-up of VIPs at the official launch of UAE’s national airline Etihad Airways’ daily services to Perth last night (August 5).

The gala event, overlooking the city’s skyline from landmark Kings Park, was hosted by the airline’s chief commercial officer, Peter Baumgartner, who is in Australia this week for a series of business events, said a statement.

Australia’s Ambassador to the UAE and Qatar Pablo Kang were among the 300 guests, besides senior ministers from the Western Australian Cabinet, Australian sporting legends - John Bertrand, Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer, and members of the state’s diplomatic, business and media community.

“We are delighted by the enthusiastic response we’ve had from our stakeholders and the people of Western Australia,” said Baumgartner.

“The interest in Etihad Airways and our home, Abu Dhabi, has been extraordinary and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership with the state,” he said.

“Etihad promises not only to bring more competition to the market and offer guests a rewarding new travel experience, but also to invest in the economic prosperity of rural and regional Western Australia through our partnerships with Virgin Australia, Tourism Australia and Tourism Western Australia.”

The airline commenced daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Perth last month, adding more than 190,000 seats of airline capacity each year to the Western Australian travel market and offering greater access to more than 30 business and holiday destinations worldwide. - TradeArabia News Service