THE United Arab Emirates’ Etihad Airways will increase its Abu Dhabi-Manila flights to 14 flights a week from 12, its chief executive told reporters Thursday.James Hogan, who paid a courtesy call on President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday, said the increase followed the rising demand for passenger seats to the UAE, from where the airline serves destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America.

Etihad is one the foreign carriers that have expressed desire to set up base here or expand operations since Mr. Aquino signed two executive orders paving the way for the liberalization of air services.Our efforts to liberalize aviation and improve regulation are leading to the expansion of foreign airlines here in the Philippines,the President said earlier.Mr. Aquino said Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways and Singapore-based JetStar Asia Airways had begun operating here, while Malaysian airline AirAsia Berhad would start regular services within the year.