ASTANA. February 12. KAZINFORM UAE's national carrier Etihad Airways today celebrated its first flight to the Kazakh commercial capital, Almaty. "The regular flights to Kazakhstan would further strengthen communication, trade and tourism between the Middle East and Central Asia in general and between Kazakhstan and UAE in particular", commented UAE Ambassador to Kazakhstan Ibrahim Hassan Saif. On 2 December 2008, Etihad Airways launched its first flight from Abu Dhabi to the Kazakhstan biggest city, Almaty. The four flights a week Almaty service is part of the UAE carrier's expansion plans to meet increasing demands of the market, Kazinform refers to WAM.